Andrew Baldwin House (1819)

The Federal-style residence at 63 Main Street in North Stonington was built in 1819 by Andrew Baldwin, the village carpenter. The house is located next to the Shunock River and a millpond that served a nearby sawmill. At the time, North Stonington village was home to a number of mills and was called Milltown. Later, in the twentieth century, the Baldwin property was owned by Frank and Alma Limpert, who operated Limpert Realty. Starting in 1960 (they sold the property c. 1987), the couple collected artifacts and added new structures to the grounds. Frank Limpert built two dams and a sluice gate to utilize dammed water for a waterwheel he constructed and attached to a new mill addition at the rear of the building, inspired by one at the birthplace of the artist Gilbert Stewart in North Kingstown, R.I. The Limperts also brought to the grounds an 1871 mill from Ohio and an 1814 schoolhouse, the latter of which they filled with period schoolhouse furniture and objects. They tore down the termite-infested blacksmith shop and replaced it with a replica, and turned the old carriage house into a museum filled with historical artifacts. They often welcomed visits by local schoolchildren and other visitors. The mill still bears a sign that read’s “Limpert’s Gristmill.” The old carriage house was more recently home to “The Village Antiques and Collectibles.”