USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The book of Boston: the Federal period, 1775 to 1837 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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The early history of these buildings is documented in the personal memoirs of the original owner, Mr. Colburn. He records, "They were planned by myself and the work executed by A. Benjamin, architect." Later in 1808, after he remarried, he writes: "We went immediately home to my new house in Beacon Street, which I had furnished with elegant furniture. ... We had a great deal of dinner com- pany, balls, etc. and lived in a fashionable style, as I could well afford it, for I was then worth over half a million dol- lars." He was twenty-eight years old at this time and had made his entire fortune in ten years since setting out for London with only $1,000, $200 of which was spent for the passage!
In 1845 Number 55 Beacon Street became the home of William H. Prescott, the great American historian, who lived there until his death in 1856. Here he wrote the Con- quest of Peru and entertained distinguished guests from all
I22
Beacon Hill
Portrait of Mrs. James Smith Colburn by Gilbert Stuart
over the world, among them William Makepeace Thackeray. These famous houses, such noteworthy examples of the work of Asher Benjamin, are being carefully preserved. Number 54 is an apartment house and number 55 became in 1944 the Headquarters House of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
To leave the Hill momentarily, the * Commandant's House (1809), overlooking the water front at the Charles- town Navy Yard, is another of these early double bow-front houses. Although completely altered inside and out, this fine
123
The Tea Party by Henry Sargent Interior of the artist's home at 10 Franklin Street c. 1820
**********
The Dinner Party by Henry Sargent. Interior of the artist's home at 10 Franklin Street c. 1820
The BOOK of BOSTON
house with a double swell front is still in use and may be seen from the approach to the Mystic River Bridge, along with a fleeting glimpse of the Navy Yard and Old Ironsides.
On Beacon Hill there are many other notable houses too numerous to mention in this small volume. Every street is lined with these charming old brick residences.
The interiors on the Hill have often been altered, but many fine staircases, cornices, dadoes, mantelpieces, door and window mouldings are still intact. Letters of travelers, paintings, and inventories of the period reveal the furnish- ings and color schemes of these gracious rooms. Most of the houses had wallpaper then, and the woodwork was painted white or gray. Floors were covered with handsome carpets or painted floor cloths. There were colorful overdraperies of rich materials, often festooned, trimmed with ball or tassel fringes, and caught up with elaborate cords and tassels. Satin was the most popular fabric for the formal rooms. Colors were brilliant, and there was a great deal of emerald green, azure blue, lilac, crimson, puce, and yellow. "Parlors" usually had a "sopha" and several mahogany "hair-bot- tomed" chairs covered in the same material as the curtains. There would also be a "lolling" chair, a pair of mahogany card tables with a pair of gold-framed looking glasses above, and often a pianoforte, tall and "banjo" clocks, pictures, mantel objects of pottery or porcelain, lamps, decanters, wineglasses, japanned ware, candlesticks, candelabra, and other silverware. The popular tea equipage included trays, urns, caddies, spoons, and a "tea sett of china."
Chinese export porcelain, including the so-called "Lowestoft," was often made to order. The water front of Canton was lined with wharves flying the American and 126
Beacon Hill
Chinese Export Porcelain creampot with the Arms of the Cincinnati
European flags. Here the merchants traded and shipped home crates of these popular dishes. Four famous tea sets inscribed with the Arms of the Cincinnati were brought to America for George Washington, Henry Jackson, General Benjamin Lincoln, and Captain Samuel Shaw. One may be seen at the Concord Antiquarian Society, and other pieces of exportware belonging to prominent Boston families are in the Museum of Fine Arts and local collections. The Order of the Cincinnati, named for Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, the fa- mous Roman soldier who left his plow to serve the state, was founded in 1783 by Washington's officers to help each other when in need and "To Perpetuate friendships formed during the War." George Washington was the president until his
I27
---
L
Blue Staffordshire printed ware with a view of an English Country House
death. This distinguished hereditary society is still very active today. The cream jugs of these and other Chinese export porcelain tea sets also show the classic influence of the period in their shape, a Roman helmet inverted.
In addition to this oriental porcelain there was also some French porcelain, English Staffordshire and other pottery.
The blue Staffordshire printed ware was very popular for dinner and tea sets. Many pieces had views of English country houses or American buildings. Those with the State I28
Beacon Hill
House, the Bulfinch Building at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and other early Federal Boston buildings are still very much sought after. Many interesting buildings now gone may be seen on these dishes.
The household inventory of the Joseph Cutler Estate is a valuable record. The list of furnishings of each room in his home on Orange Street, now Washington Street, and other inventories show us how Bostonians lived in this early Federal period.
McLean Hospital, Sommerville, Massachusetts, 1811
Inventory of the Estate of South butter late of Ballon in the lecunity of Suffolk Muchand durason, takan Der 18th, 1866.
Wearing Apanel .
10 Goals V Surtouts-12 Waslento 15 th Pantalons do Ct .. ) 75.00
If this Stockings 3 Hals. I Was Boots. Le Vais Shows 2 forward that's 6 .Shirts .5. Auch Still. 17.00
1 Golos watch chain.
.Frond Godlou Chamber
Nice Dustead 2 Blantuls ? Shanti how To train ) Contains.
50.00
Boa Quill 150 Bacon $11 Miting Task $350 16.00
Trunk 1.50 Brass Undroms Shoud Jong: $ 13. 111.50
1. Silove Table spoons 13.50 1/2 4.02 Teaspoons $1.25. 2.4 . 75
Ausland spoon 50- Sugar Songs. 1.00 2.00
Ser Frau paul Jill China V. $5 Small Joan VIL Fuit Stato $1. 6.00
5.00
Large Delle Small 2. 8 115 Other Books 10 .00
Grupul 13 33 Hearth Jag $2. 15.33
13 Show. 16.25. Zbrane 9: 5.2.5 9. Jog Pillows Faces $7. 28.50
1. Table Clotho 10 50-12 Brockfuel 1x2.5.00- Talastathofl .. 18.50
18 Touch. 1.500 Looking Glass $12- 20das Blantale . . 52 15,50
25.00 Salling than the Branou ste Make Chang's 6thomas. .. -17.00 2. Junto $2 Jean Should & Long's To Jacking Clau 3.50 Inteland 25. 6. 30
14, Booker$ 16.39 Curtain at entry Window 1.511. 17.83. -
Youth Bed Chamber
First page of the Inventory of the Estate of Joseph Cutler, Boston, 1806
INVENTORY
of the Estate of Joseph Cutler late of Boston in the County of Suffolk Merchant deceased, taken Decr. 18th 1806 WEARING APPARELL
10 Coats & Surtous - 12 Waistcoats 15 pr Pantaloons & Small Cloths
17 Pair Stockings 3 Hats - 3 Pair Boots - 4 Pair shoes 2 flannel 75.00
vests
6 Shirts - 5 Neck cloths
1 Gold Watch chain 17.00
FRONT PARLOUR CHAMBER
Bed, Bedstead, 2 Blankets, 2 Sheets Counterpain & Curtains 50.00
1 Bed Quilt 1.50 Bureau $11 Writing Desk $3.50 16.00
Trunk 1.50 Brass Andirons Shovel & Tongs $13 14.50
6 Silver Table spoons 13.50 - 1/2 Doz. Teaspoons $11.25 24.75
Mustard spoon 50 - Sugar Tongs 1.50 2.00
Tea Tray & part Sett China $5 Small Tray & 14 Fruit plates $1
6.00
Plate Castor & Cruits $4 5 Tumblers $1 5.00
Large Bible Small Do. & 14 other Books 10.00
Carpet 13.33 Hearth Rug $2
15.33
13 Sheets 16.25 - 7 Coarser Do. 5.25 2 Doz. Pillow Cases $7
28.50
6 Table Cloths 10.50 - 4 Breakfast Do. $2 - 5 Coarser Tablecloths $6
18.50
18 Towels 1.80 Looking Glass $12 - 2 old Blankets $2 15.80
MIDDLE CHAMBER
Bed, Bedstead, 2 Sheets, 1 Blanket, bed quilt Counterpain &
Curtains 25.00
Lolling Chair $4 Bureau $4 Night Chair $5 - 6 Chairs $4 17.00
2 Trunks $2 Iron Shovel & Tongs. 75 Looking Glass 3.50
Inkstand .25
6.50
49 Books $16.33 Curtain at entry Window 1.50 17.83
NORTH BED CHAMBER
Bed, Bedstead 2 Sheets 1 Blanket 2 Quilts Curtains $ 25.00
KITCHEN CHAMBER
Bed Bedstead 2 Bolsters & 3 Pillows 12.50
1 Bedstead 1.50 Trunk Containing 7 pieces Bed covering $12 13.50
Chest & 2 Baskets 2.00
EAST LITTLE CHAMBER
2 Beds 2 Sheets Blanket & Coverlid 30.00
$447.71
131
The BOOK of BOSTON
FRONT WEST ROOM
1 Sopha & covering $25 Pr. Card.Tables & Coverings $18 43.00
10 Chairs $15 - Pr. Looking Glasses $40 55.00
Pictures of Washington and Adams 2.50 - 20 Yds. old Carpet $10 12.50
2 Tea Trays & Coffee-Sett Crockery $4 - 2 Green Table Cloths $8 12.00
Table sett China $20 Tray with Ivory Sett Knives & Forks $14 ... 34.00
Coffee & Tea Sett Liverpool Ware $4.50 Glassware in Closett $5 .. 9.50
Castor & Cruits $12 - 2 Pair plated Candlesticks $3 15.00
Teapot Sugar bowl and Creampot plated $15 Pr Brass Lamps .75 .. 15.75
FRONT ENTRY
Dining Table $6 - Stair Carpet $2 - 2 pair fire Buckets & 2 Bags $8 16.00
MIDDLE ROOM
Clock $35 Dining Table $5 - 1 Do. $5 Breakfast Do. $3.50 48.50
Looking Glass $12 Lolling chair $3 - 2 Arm Chairs 2.50 17.50
1/2 Doz. chairs $5 Rocking do. $1 - 2 Childrens Do $1 - Cradle $4 11.00
Carpet $5 Hearth rug $2 Hand Irons shovel & Tongs $13 20.00
Back Gammon Board 1.50 Liquor case with Bottles $6 7.50
Bellows & Brush $1 Waiter with 2 pr. decanters pr Salts, Tumblers & Wines $5 6.00
In Closett, plates, dishes, Tureens, 4 pitchers, 2 Canisters & Tray 6.00
STORE ROOM
4 demijones 2.80 - s Stone jugs 1.50 - 3 baskets & a Tub 1.50 5.80
Mahogany Stand 2.50 - 1 Maple do. - . 75 Tray wt. Knives & forks 2.50 5.75
Box small tools 2.00
CELLAR
2 Casks potatoes $3 - Ullage Wine 12.50 - 2 pipes sour cyder $12 27.50
Ullage Keg Molasses 3.20 - 31/2 Doz American porter $7. 10.20
KITCHEN
6 polished dish covers $6 - 6 Do. Tin 1.50 Tea & Coffee pots 1.50 9.00
Tin Tea Kettle 2.50 Cheese Box .75 Bell mettled Kettle $3
Mortar $1 7.25
Set Crockery ware Pudding dishes plates etc $2 - 6 Iron Flats 1.75 3.75
4 Bread pans 1.33 Hand Irons Shovel & Tongs 2.50 3.83
Copper Tea Kettle 2.50 2 Tables 1.50 folding Board .33 4.33
Warming pan $2 Looking Glass .62 Brush & Broom .50 3.12
3 Candlesticks Lamp Tinder Box shoe brushes Snuffers & Bellows 1.37
$860.86
I32
Inventory
Brought forward $860.86
SINK ROOM
Brass Kettle $7 2 Iron pots, 3 dish Kettles Bakepan
13.50
Iron Tea Kettle small pot & Skiller $6.50
Coffee Mill 1.50 Grid Iron & Toaster - $1 2.50
Tin Roaster $2, frying Pan, tub, Pole & Clothe Line $1 3.00
Tin ware
2.50
2 Pair Brass Candlesticks in Keeping Room 3.33
WOOD HOUSE
Cupboard with shelves 1.50 251/2 Doz. bottles @ .58
16.29
Tubs & Casks $6 - Wood $10 - 2 Cloathe horses $1.50 17.50
WOOD HOUSE CHAMBER
Stone pots and Charlestown ware $4 Lanthorn $2
6.00
Coffee Roaster, plate warmer, water pot, Coffee mill & Bread
Trough
2.50
3 Cheese Boxes .75, Empty Cask, tubs, Boxes Baskets, etc 3.50
Ullage Barrel Meal
.50
BARN & YARD
1 Cow $18 - 2 tierces Vinegar 8.50 Wheelbarrow .50
27.00
Bark $6 - part Barrel Soap .75 shovel, Butle & Hoe $1
7.75
Glas Case 2.50
$969.23
6 Chamber Chairs @ 10/6
10.50
Benja. Goddard, David W. Child Sam. Dorr
$979.73
Inventory of the Stock in trade of Joseph Cutler and Asa Whitney under the Firm of Cutler and Whitney, one half of which belong- ing to the Estate of the said Joseph Cutler of Boston County of Suffolk. March 1 deceased, taken Decr. 19th 1806
13 .. 2.0 Cod Fish
@
4.00
54.00
61/2 Barrels Brown Sugar 12 .. 1.2
10.00
122.68
5 do. Havana Sugar 6 .. 2.15
@ 14.00
92.87
121/2 Casks ordinary Tobacco 1603 lbs
@
.08
128.24
14 do. Good do. 2222 lbs
@
.15 333.30
637 lbs Sole Leather
@
.201/2
130.58
4.3.14 Copperas
@
4.00
19.50 ·
3.3.21 Indin Allum
@
5.50
21.65
596 lbs Coffee
@
.30
178.80
1 Barrel 2 half Barrels & 12 Kegs Ginger 636 lbs. @
.12
76.08
I33
The BOOK of BOSTON
2 Bags Pepper -> 197 lbs
@
.18
35.44
2 Barrels Garlicky Flour
@
6.00
12.00
154 lbs White Rope
@
.10
15.40
81/2 Chests Hyson Tea - 552 lbs
@
1.11
612.72
71/2 do. H.Skin do. 476 "
@
.60
285.60
5 do. Souch do. 421 "
@
.70
294.70
Ullag Gunpowder Tea 18 "
@
1.20
21.60
do. Young Hyson do.
79 "
@
.95
75.05
221 lbs Bengal Indigo
@
2.00
442.00
111 lbs. do. do. (ordinary)
@
1.25
138.75
0.3.7 - Rice
@
4.25
3.46
37 Bales Cassia
391 lbs
@
.36
140.76
2 Boxes, 5 half Boxes and Ulage No. 1
Chocolate 206 lbs
@
.32
65.92
3 Boxes @ .25 & 5 half ditto for Ditto
@
.20
1.75
25 Gunny Bags
@
.09
2.25
20 lbs Salt Peter
@
.20
4.00
24 Yards Tow Cloth
@
.20
4.80
11 lbs Spun Yarn
@
.08
.88
434 lbs Snuff
@
.25
108.50
181/2 lbs Bottles
@
.22
3.96
1071/4 lbs do.
@
.12
12.84
30 lbs Loaf sugar
@
.21
6.30
39 Baskets
@
.28
10.92
18 Demijons
@
.90
16.20
$3473.52
11/2 Chest Bohia Tea 575 lbs
@
.40
230.00
11.1.21 Logwood
@
3.10
35.45
5 Hhs. 3 Barrels & Ullage Molasses 616 gr.
@
.37
227.92
1 Ullage Cask Raisins 30 lbs
@
.08
2.40
26 Rheam Writing Paper
@
2.88
74.88
1 Pipe Containing 44 Gals. Ginn
@
.95
41.80
3 Pipes 100 Proof Burdox Brandy
316 Gs
@
.75
237.00
1 Do. 200 do do do
52 Gs
@
.80
41.60
4 Do 4th proof Barcelona Brandy 405 gs
@
.83
336.15
4 Hhs St. Croix Rum
414 gs
@
.85
351.90
1 do Jamaica do
107 gs
@
.88
94.16
22 do Tobago do
2267 gs
@
.72
1632.24
2 Box Brimstone 3.1.0
@
4.00
13.00
3 Pipes white wine
303 gs
@
.85
257.55
2 do Cape do
212 gs
@
.84
169.50
1 Do Sherry do
68 gs
@
1.00
68.00
I34
Inventory
4 Qr Casks sherry wine
132 gall
@
1.18
115.76
21 Gallons Cargo Nidonia Wine
@
.95
19.95
1 Pipe Marcella Madeira do
84 gall
@
1.00
84.00
Ullage Cognac Brandy
52 gall
@
1.15
59.80
4 Casks Red Wine
227 Gall
@
.60
136.20
1
do do (damaged)
55 gall
@
.20
11.00
2 Barrels No. 3 Mackrell
@
7.00
14.00
31/2 Doz. Porter Bottles
@
.58
2.03
12 half Barrels
@
.66
7.92
12 Kegs
a
.20
2.40
A Quantity of Sea coal
@
11.00
11.00
85 Bags fine Salt
@
3.25
276.25
Ullage Keg Essence Spru
@
6.00
6.00
20 lbs dipt Candles
@
.121/2
2.70
15 Bushels Beans
@
1.50
22.50
8 Galls. Colouring
@
.90
7.20
8 Cheese Casks
@
.42
3.36
28 Sugar Barrels
@
.30
8.40
5 Molasses Hhds
@
.90
4.50
2 Empty Pipes
@
.90
1.80
2 Rum hhds
@
3.00
6.00
1 Medicine Chest
@
4.00
4.00
$8137.96
1 Large Seale Beam & Rigging
@ 23.00
23.00
2 Small do do do
@ 2.50
2.50
1 Copp. hand Pump Measures & Tin funnells
15.00
26 half Cwt. Weights
@
1.75
45.00
2 28 lb. Weights
@
1.00
2.00
3 14 lb. do
@
.62
1.86
3
7
do
@
.37
1.11
6 11
do
@
.28
1.68
4
2 do
@
.14
.56
1 Sett Brass Weights
@
.75
.75
2 Water Pails and Wooden Funnell
@
2.00
2.00
1 Chest Store Tools
@
8.00
8.00
1 Book Chest
@
4.00
4.00
1 Writing Desk
@ 9.00
9.00
1 Map United States
@ 8.00
8.00
4 Painted Wine Casks
@ 11.00
11.00
1 Guacigeing Rod
3.00
5 Wine Casks
@ 1.00
5.00
312 lbs & 687 lbs Cheese 999 lbs
@ .10
99.90
I35
The BOOK of BOSTON
151 lbs Lump Butter
@
.18
27.18
1 Barrel Old Beef
@
8.00
8.00
5 Kegs poor Butter
232 lbs
@
.15
34.80
10 Barrels Mess Beef
@ 11.75
117.50
57 do No. 1 do
@
9.75
555.75
35 do No. 2 do
@
7.75
271.25
9 do No. 3 do
@
5.75
51.75
3 Kegs second Sort Butter Inspection included
24.24
1331/2 lbs @ .18 Inspection @ .07
2.33
Old Boxes .75 3 Old Cheese $1.00
1.75
$9476.37
More Indigo 26
@
1.25
32.50
Benj. Goddard, David W. Child Sam. Dorr
Sundries at Store at South End VIZ:
6 Casks Vinegar 223 Gallons
@ 1.37
8.22
Old Cask in Cask Yard
@ 10.00
10.00
2 Iron Shovels
@
.50
1.00
1 Half Bushel, Peck & half-peck measure
@
.33
.33
5 old Barrels & Tubs
@
1.20
1.20
1 Pork Hook
@
.25
.25
16 half Barrels and Old Cask
@
.25
4.00
4 Bushels Oates & Pease
@
.50
2.00
41/2 do Rye (damaged)
@
.62
2.79
1 Bedstead Bed & Bedding
@ 16.00
16.00
1 Fire Settle
@
1.50
1.50
Skillet Dish Kettle & Old Iron
@
1.50
1.50
Old Casks Kettles Hammers etc
@
3.00
3.00
@
.12
26.76
6 Casks for do.
1 Beef Block $1.00 1 Pork Block $7.00
8.00
1 Grindstone $3
3.00
$9598.42
Suffolk Ss. At a Probate Court held at Boston on Monday the Nine- teenth day of January Anno Domini 1807 - Phabe Cutler Adminis- tratrix on the Estate of Joseph Cutler late of Boston in said County Merchant, Deceased, presented this Inventory and made Oath it contained all the estate of said deceased, that had come to his hands and knowledge that if she should hereafter be possessed of any thing further she will render and account for it into the Probate Office. Thomas Dawes Judge of Probate.
Examined John Heard
136
6 Old Sugar Hhds and Tierce
Bostonians' Country Houses
Wealthy Boston families not only lived in stately town houses but also had country seats in the English manner. Several of these exist in what is now greater Boston, and some may be visited.
Most of these estates had extensive grounds and large mansion houses, reflecting the contemporary seats that dot- ted the English countryside. Bulfinch possessed books from abroad showing these great houses: Among them were Orig- inal Designs in Architecture by William W. Thomas, pub- lished in London in 1795 with elevations and plans for a bow-front house. Most of the great American country houses of the early Federal period had a bowed section fram- ing a lovely oval room inside, although many were called circular or bow parlors in those days.
Pleasant Hill, the country home of Joseph Barrell of Summer Street, was built in 1792 in Charlestown (now Somerville) and overlooked the Charles River. Approached by a driveway bordered with English elm trees, it had gar- dens at the rear extending down to the water and a private dock from which his boats transported his family to Boston. This fine brick mansion with a bow front had the usual oval room, classic interior finish, and a magnificent divided stair- case. Later it was enlarged, with wings added by Bul- finch, and became the McLean Hospital for the Insane. The original house remained unchanged until 1896 when it was demolished and the hospital moved to the present location in Waverly.
I37
The BOOK of BOSTON
Mrs. James Swan of Chestnut Street, Boston, built her country home in Dorchester in 1796. This swell-front wooden house, set high on a grass terrace, had famous gar- dens accented with white-painted statues of fauns and nymphs sent from France. There was a family tomb on the grounds, a few minutes' walk from the house, enclosed by a tall lilac hedge. The beautiful circular parlor in the cen- ter of the mansion, known as the Marie Antoinette Room, had three mirror windows and superb French furniture. Here in 1825 she entertained at a reception for her old friend, the Marquis de Lafayette.
Nearby Mr. Perez Morton's country house was also the scene of many brilliant gatherings in the early Federal period. This distinguished mansion with a pedimented and pilastered façade had a semicircular entrance porch with a Wyatt window above, a recessed fanlighted entrance door, a rich cornice, and a roof rail. There was a fine classic stable beyond the turf terrace and curved carriageway. Inside was an oval room, but this house had no bow front.
These country seats had a great variety of architectural detail, although the interior plans were often similar. * Mr. Stephen Higginson's large house, built in 1798 in Brookline on the old Sherburne Road (later part of the Worcester Turnpike), reflected different British ideas. The staircase was in a separate room off the entrance hall or entry, a feature unique in this country, and the dining-room ceiling was decorated with the raised plaster ornament of wheat and grape motifs so characteristic in England at the time. Al- though altered, this house still has the marble mantels, Wyatt windows, and a bow-ended parlor.
Harrison Gray Otis had his country seat, named Oakley, in Watertown. The wooden farmhouse which he 138
Interior of Shirley Place, Roxbury, now known as the Shirley-Eustis House, showing the Federal staircase in Governor Eustis' country house
purchased was built in 1715 and was pleasantly situated on a hill affording an unbroken view of Cambridge and Boston. In 1808 he rebuilt this house and added the popular archi- tectural features of his day. Among these were the bow front, framing an oval room, and two staircases - a rec- tangular back stairs leading to the top of the house and a graceful winding front stairway ascending to the second floor. This circular flight of steps is one of the few extant with double railings of mahogany terminating in scrolls. Here Otis lived a rural life in the hot weather and enter- tained gay house parties until 1825. Much of his house re- mains incorporated in the clubhouse of a golf club which still bears the old name of Oakley.
I39
The BOOK of BOSTON
The large square country seat built earlier by the well- known colonial Governor Shirley on Roxbury Hill was also partially remodeled at this time. A black-and-white checked stone floor like those in the great English country houses was laid in the entrance hall and a graceful curved staircase re- placed the simpler colonial one. Here in this historic house both Washington and Lafayette were entertained. Now known as the * Shirley-Eustis house, this important gover- nor's mansion still stands and it is hoped that it will soon be restored to its former dignity.
Two of the largest and finest country seats of Boston gentlemen are in Waltham and both are open to the public for a small fee. Gore Place is maintained by the Gore Place Society and The Vale by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities.
* Gore Place was built in 1804 by Christopher Gore, three years before he was elected governor, to replace his earlier wooden country home which had burned during his absence in England. This long, low, two-story brick man- sion of twenty-two rooms, so like Heaton Park near Man- chester, England, has a bow front framing two oval rooms, twenty by thirty feet, one above the other. Unusual in this country is the billiard room on the ground floor, similar to the one in the handsome British residence. Other features are two fine fanlighted entrance doors opening from a stone terrace, a magnificent "flying" spiral staircase, marble floors, beautiful mantelpieces, and a dignified two-story music room. An 18th-century wooden ** stable now houses a col- lection of carriages. The Gore Place Society hopes to restore the extensive grounds to the original plan, with gardens, an orchard, shade trees, a grape arbor, pastures with a ha-ha wall, deer park, and a Mile Walk, to form the proper setting for this great American country house.
140
Gore Place, Waltham, the country house of Governor Christopher Gore
N. B the mulheres as fet Down are taken to the out Lier, not allowing for thickness of partition. Se except the Entries where they are iny Clear
26 by 19
19 611
2/ 6. 12
wald Room
Kitchen 2.1 / 18
-----
6%ofet
41 fat
the Jeale is 1/8 inch to a foot -
To fut
Front
J. M'Inter Zd.
. .
F
Plan of The Vale, Waltham, the country house of Theodore Lyman, by Samuel Mc Intire
The ha-ha, so customary in English grounds, is a ditch about four feet in depth which drops off sharply at the end of the mowed lawn supported by a retaining wall on the high side. This separates the lawn from the pastures beyond and prevents the cattle from approaching the house. The term ha-ha came from the amusement caused when people unknowingly stepped over the edge and into the ditch!
Theodore Lyman, whose Boston house was in Bowdoin Square, built his fine country seat, ** The Vale, in 1793, from plans by Samuel McIntire (1757-1811). These are now in the Essex Institute, Salem. The large wooden man- sion house still retains the oval room known as the "Bow
142
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The Vale, now the property of The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities
Parlour" with the original window seats and other pieces of furniture, and the distinguished ballroom with a colonnaded end, formerly the library. Photographs hanging inside show the exterior of the house as it was when it was built, of white clapboards with pilasters on the upper façade and a balus- trade on the roof. A fine McIntire stable also survives.
The original estate was of one hundred and fifty acres, but within a few years Mr. Lyman purchased three hundred additional acres. He brought over a well-known English gardener, William Bell, who planned the grounds in the manner of Humphry Repton (1752-1818,) the great British landscape architect of the late 18th century. Several seasons
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The BOOK of BOSTON
were required to grade and lay out the ** gardens which to- day are considered the finest of their type existing in Amer- ica. The park, a mile in length, was enriched by English limes, elms, and oaks along with other foreign shade trees. There were broad lawns, a deer park, a pond with swans, and a brook crossed by two stone arched bridges. There was also a box hedge four feet high and a peach wall where the fruit trees were trained in the French espalier manner. This old wall of brick, about eleven feet high and five hundred feet long, follows the curve of the hill behind the mansion and leads to the greenhouses.
These ** greenhouses, built in 1800 and 1804, are among the oldest and most unique in the country. They had a quaint system of heating. One was warmed by a long, flat, horizontal flue running the length of the house and connect- ing with a small wood-burning fireplace. All this remains and was in use as late as 1931. The other was heated by small wood fires in the arches of brick at the base of the brick north wall. This heating of the wall gave out the necessary warmth. Here were raised pineapples, bananas, and other tropical fruit, ornamental plants and flowers. Very old ca- mellias still blossom profusely and an ancient grapevine continues to bear delicious fruit. These interesting old "glass- houses," the grounds, and mansion house are now open to the public in the summertime.
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