Paper House
An 80-year-old house built out of newspapers
Category Outsider Architecture
Elis F. Stenman started building his house in 1922 as anyone else would, with a timber frame, roof and floors, but when the mechanical engineer and tinkerer began constructing the walls he chose to use a decidedly different form of wood: newspaper.
The Rockport Paper House's walls, doors, and furniture are all made of varnished newspapers--roughly 100,000 of them. 215 layers of paper were stuck together with a homemade glue of flour, water and apple peels to make 1-inch-thick panels for the walls. All the furniture, including a clock, desk and chair, are made of paper and functional. The only exceptions are the fireplace and the piano, which is only covered in paper. The house has stood intact for over 80 years, with no more upkeep than the occasional varnishing.
On the inside of the house the walls and furniture are still readable, displaying headlines such as "LINDBERGH HOPS OFF FOR OCEAN FLIGHT TO PARIS." While the exact reasons why Stenman choose paper are unknown, it was certainly a thrifty option. Stenman moved out in 1930 and the house became a museum. Stenman's grandniece is now in charge of the house which can still be toured today. Keep an eye on the clock which has a paper from each of the (then)48 states on it. Though the house has a usable fireplace, it would seem in a house made of paper and varnish, an ill advised idea.
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- Hours The paper house is open all day, every day from spring through fall.
- Website http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2109
- Address 52 Pigeon Hill Street , Rockport, Massachusetts, United States
- Cost Admission is $1.50 for adults and $1.00 for children ages 6 - 14.
The house is somewhat off the beaten path and the signs can easily be missed. On entering Rockport follow 127 north toward Pigeon Cove. After the Yankee Clipper Inn take the second left (Curtis Street) then another left on Pigeon Hill Street to No.52 (on your right).
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