Archaeologists Uncover Secrets of Maui’s Oldest House
Baldwin Home Museum’s Hidden Kitchen
Archaeologists are meticulously searching for traces of an adobe kitchen behind the Baldwin Home Museum, the oldest house still standing on Maui. This dig, set to conclude on March 27, has already yielded intriguing evidence of traditional foods, cookware, and a bone button.
The Baldwin Home, now a museum, was originally built for Reverend Ephraim Spaulding. When Spaulding fell ill and returned to Massachusetts, Reverend Dwight Baldwin and his wife, Charlotte, moved into the house. Over the years, the couple raised eight children, though two tragically succumbed to dysentery. Charlotte dedicated herself to educating local children, while the family welcomed visitors from all walks of life, including sea captains, missionaries, and Hawaiian royalty.
Theo Morrison, executive director of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, noticed the conspicuous absence of a kitchen in the historic home several years ago. “This place was bustling with activity day and night,” Morrison remarked.
Documents related to the estate mention an adobe cookhouse behind the main house, as well as hundreds of adobe buildings in Lahaina, which served as Maui’s capital for 25 years before Honolulu.
The Baldwin Home was initially a one-story, four-room structure built with lava rocks and coral cemented by sand and lime. Its architectural style evokes old British homes by the sea. Visitors can glimpse the home’s two-foot-thick walls through a small exposed section. The Baldwins expanded the property over 31 years, adding bedrooms and a second story.
Archaeological Discoveries
Despite setbacks due to weather and falling mangoes, the archaeological team has persevered, unearthing artifacts from various periods. These include a blue paint fragment from the 20th century renovation, as well as a button, clam shells, opihi, animal bones, and a potential utensil.
The team’s ongoing search aims to locate an entrance to the cookhouse and stairs leading to the Baldwin home.
Baldwin’s Role in the Smallpox Epidemic
The Baldwin Home’s history is intertwined with the island’s struggle against disease outbreaks. In the 19th century, increased traffic from whalers, missionaries, and businessmen exposed local residents to various illnesses.
Reverend Baldwin, who held a Masters’ degree from Harvard College’s medical school, played a crucial role in combating the smallpox epidemic that ravaged the Hawaiian archipelago in 1853. Colleagues on the mainland sent him supplies for inoculation, and Baldwin tirelessly rode around the island on horseback, administering vaccinations to locals.
Baldwin also advocated for refusing incoming boats and quarantining individuals exhibiting smallpox symptoms. As a result, Maui experienced significantly fewer fatalities from smallpox than neighboring Oahu.
A Window into the Past
Morrison envisions rebuilding the cookhouse using adobe bricks made by the community. “It would provide another glimpse into the Baldwin family’s daily life—their food, cooking methods, and storage practices,” she explained.
The Baldwin Home Museum is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but its legacy as a place of refuge and healing continues to resonate. The archaeological dig offers a tantalizing glimpse into the vibrant past of Maui’s oldest house and the people who shaped its history.
