Midcoast Maine is well known in textile circles for the hand hooked rugs that were crafted by local women during the second half of the 19th century and well into the 20th century. Chapman-Hall House of Damariscotta has several examples of these antique rugs. This year, through the generous donation of William Waters of Dresden, all of the rugs have been remounted using up-to-date museum techniques. The hooked rug collection is part of the permanent exhibits at Chapman-Hall.

The first step in a hooked rug project was to cut rags of wool and cotton into thin strips; these would form the pile of the rug. The rug design was worked on a burlap backing cloth with a small metal hook. As the craft grew in popularity, Edward Sands Frost of Biddeford saw the opportunity to build a successful business offering pre-printed burlap rug backings in various sizes, one of which is included in the exhibit. The availability of a variety of decorative designs printed on the burlap was a boost to the craft.

In addition to designs skillfully worked with colorful flowers, the Chapman-Hall House collection includes animals and symmetrical motifs. An antique rug frame with a half completed rug is also on display. This partially completed rug, left unfinished by its owner, is an excellent example of a hooked rug in the making and how a rug hooking frame of this vintage was used.

The Chapman-Hall House is located at 270 Main Street in Damariscotta and is open Saturday and Sundays from noon until 4 p.m. This historic site closes for the season on Oct. 4, 2015.

The Chapman-Hall House is part of The Lincoln County Historical Association, a nonprofit organization that provides stewardship for the 1754 Chapman-Hall House in Damariscotta, the 1761 Pownalborough Courthouse in Dresden, and the 1811 Old Jail and Museum in Wiscasset. For further information on the Lincoln County Historical Association please visit the website: www.lincolncountyhistory.com.