Stephen King's Maine mansion becomes a literary archive, with $2,500 writers' retreats next door

Forty-six years after Stephen King bought a red Victorian mansion in Bangor, Maine, for $135,000, the famous property has officially become a centre for literary research and a place where working writers can focus on their work. The dark red Second Empire house at 47 West Broadway is well known for its unusual wrought-iron gate decorated with bats and webbed gargoyles. It now holds King's large collection of literary archives.

Next door, the historic Brown Mansion operates as a fully funded writers' retreat. Selected writers can stay for 10 days and receive a $2,500 stipend. According to official information published by The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, the non-profit organisation founded by the bestselling author and his wife, the two projects give selected writers dedicated time to write, comfortable accommodation, and financial support.

They also help preserve the historic neighbourhood.Historic home transformed for literary preservationKing and his wife, Tabitha, bought the house, which was built in 1858, in 1980 for $135,000.