Take a tour and step back into the 18th century by exploring the home of Reverend Moses Sweat, Sanford’s first Congregational minister. The meticulously restored Sweat-Morin Homestead offers a rare look at colonial life, including a carriage house, historic barn, family cemetery, and expansive wooded trails.
The historic home has been furnished with a mix of authentic pieces and period correct replicas. Inside, you will find original woodwork paint colors and the traditional colonial layout, including the keeping room, back kitchen, birthing room, and parlor. Architectural features include three working fireplaces and massive 32-foot ceiling beams.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR
The Historic Barn: Constructed with original timber framing, the barn features unique reverse-board-and-batten sides.
Demonstrations: Watch history come to life with live demonstrations of a barn loom and two working spinning wheels.
Scholarly Legacy: Learn about the fascinating life of Reverend Sweat, an intellectual leader who was granted a master’s degree from Harvard University.
The Landscape: Situated on 100 acres, the property represents the original plot size mandated by Massachusetts law for an "orthodox" (Congregational) minister.
Walking Trails: Visitors are also invited to walk approximately two miles of scenic trails winding through the historic property.
EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Event Starts: 10:30 AM
Address: Sweat-Morin Homestead, 374 School Street, Sanford, ME
The homestead house and barn are handicapped accessible. The dirt road out to the cemetery is not terribly rough. The trails are moderately accessible — visitors have walked portions of the trails with a walker, but they are not wheelchair friendly.
FREE ADMISSION
Sign up at holy-moses-a-colonial-pastors-homestead-and-grounds-in-1786.eventbrite.com
Admittance to this event is FREE to the public, although donations are always welcomed. Signing up in advance helps us prepare for the number of attendees, as parking is limited to a maximum of 25 cars. For questions, please email info@sweatmorinhomestead.org.
This is a participating Jane's Walk ME event.
WHAT IS JANE’S WALK?
Jane’s Walk is a global festival of free, volunteer-led walking conversations inspired by community activist Jane Jacobs. Jane’s Walks combine the simple act of exploring a place with personal observations, local history, and civic engagement. The annual Jane’s Walk festival takes place the first weekend in May, in more than 500 cities and towns around the globe.
WHO WAS JANE JACOBS?
Jane Jacobs was a community activist and writer who lived from 1916 – 2006. She is best known for galvanizing her neighbors to stop a highway from being built through their community. She believed in the power of individuals to influence the places they live. Today, her principles underpin the participatory planning approaches that have been embraced in communities around the world.