Built in 1828, it is a well-preserved late example of Federal period architecture, and is most notable for the murals drawn on its walls, probably by the itinerant artist Rufus Porter.

[1] The Cleaves House is located on the west side of South High Street, between Bridgton Hospital and Tuttle Lane.

It is a 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure, five bays wide, with a side-gable roof, two interior chimneys, clapboard siding, and granite foundation.

Its main facade is symmetrical, with a center entrance flanked by sidelight windows and topped by a segmental louvered fan.

The subject material and form of the murals is stylistically with guidelines published by Porter in his 1825 publication Curious Arts, and uses a more bold color palette than his earlier work.