BRIDGTON — A tour of 10 historic sites within two miles of downtown Bridgton will take place Saturday, July 9.

Visitors can start the tour at any one of the houses from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. A box lunch will be available at Ridge Hall (Queen Ann style, house No. 3).

“Other houses included on the tour sport architectural styles such as a renovated farmhouse (No. 10) dating from about 1830, and a Gothic Revival residence,” said Beth Cossey, spokesperson for the event. “A water-powered coffin factory, built by Bridgton’s first undertaker in 1868, lends the tour a slightly mysterious air.”

All proceeds from the house tour go toward implementing plans to move the Rufus Porter Museum to downtown Bridgton, onto the Webb-Gallinari property, on the bank of Stevens Brook.

The newly-purchased Webb-Gallinari House (No. 1), a simplified Georgian style home built in 1798, will serve as house tour headquarters.

The Rufus Porter Museum celebrates the life and times of Rufus Porter, a giant of the 19th century, who established a presence in Bridgton as a young itinerate painter who went on to accomplish much in his life.

For the 2011 season the Rufus Porter Museum offers a special exhibit of 19th century weathervanes, tours of Porter’s murals and the five-day Cultural Heritage Series in late July.

The Rufus Porter Museum strives to preserve and enhance western Maine and New England heritage for current and future generations and to provide a continued educational experience of the traditional arts.

A single ticket for the house tour costs $25; a pair is $45. To purchase tickets and learn more about the Rufus Porter Museum, visit www.rufusportermuseum.com or phone 647-2828.

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