>>(Also, some of the exterior walls contain no insulation, simply
>>because it hadn't been invented yet when they were built. This is
>>sort of a problem in, you know... Maine. Although the place doesn't
>>cool off nearly as fast during a wintertime power outage as you would
>>expect knowing that!)
>
>Not even the classic "handfuls of wadded vintage newspaper" that I'd
>come to assume was a hallmark of vintage New England home
>construction?

A friend over yonder in Ireland will tell you. The old solution to this was some absurdly thick walls (literally one meter thick stone masonry walls) and a big fireplace in the middle.

He swears it works beautifully, and I believe him. While if left in disuse, houses like these can become cold, damp, chilly, and even drafty... but get that fire place going and in a day or two, everything dries out, the heat seeps into the thick stone walls, and all the cracks close up.

It sound very pleasant to live inside of, provided you have enough fuel for the fire.