To spot the Holland-Drew House, look for a stately two-story brick building on the corner, with a low, flat-looking roof, a grand entryway with white columns, and two single-story bay windows flanking the front door.
Here it stands: the Holland-Drew House, a brick beauty built in 1854 back when top hats were in fashion and lumber was king in Lewiston. Picture the busy streets of yesteryear, with horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping by as Daniel Holland, a leading lumberman and real estate mastermind, gazes out these very windows after another big deal. He helped steer the city’s growth and even served on the Maine Governor’s Council-quite the resume for a man who liked a low-pitched roof. After Daniel, Franklin Drew took up residence, bringing law, order, and even a bit of Civil War command bravado to the house. Rumor has it Drew was a magistrate with a knack for storytelling and loved dazzling guests with the stained glass portraits inside-Longfellow’s thoughtful gaze and Mozart’s hair looking perfect, as always. This isn’t just a handsome Italianate home; it’s a gateway to Lewiston’s living history, watched over by brick, granite, and a touch of artistic flair, connecting statesmen and storytellers from an age of candlelight to today’s busy city streets.
