Colonial – Page 9 – Historic Buildings of Massachusetts

Solomon Richardson House (1748)

by Dan/September 23, 2011/Colonial, Houses, Sturbridge

The saltbox house in Old Sturbridge Village known as the Parsonage was built in the village of Podunk in the town of East Brookfield in 1748 by Thomas Bannister for the Richardson family. Called the Solomon Richardson House, it was moved to Old Sturbridge Village in 1940. Now known as the Parsonage (although it never served as a parsonage while it was a residence), it is now interpreted as a minister‘s home. In earlier years at the Village, it was painted red, but was recently repainted white to harmonize with the other Greek Revival era buildings on the Old Sturbridge Village Common.

Stephen Fitch House (1737)

by Dan/September 21, 2011September 21, 2011/Colonial, Houses, Sturbridge

Stephen Fitch built a house in Windham, Connecticut in 1737. The house was later expanded in two or three stages, when an extended ell was added to the rear. In 1939, the Fitch House was acquired by Old Sturbridge Village and moved to Sturbridge the following year to become the museum’s first exhibit building. Today, the house is furnished with reproductions that visitors can touch. It is presented as the home of a successful country printer.

William T. Pickering House (1735)

by Dan/September 19, 2011September 19, 2011/Colonial, Houses, Salem

The William T. Pickering House, at 343 Essex Street, at the corner of Botts Court, in Salem, was built before 1736. It was later owned by members of the Botts family.

Scott House (1793)

by Dan/September 10, 2011/Amherst, Colonial, Houses

The Scott House in Amherst, built in 1793, is the oldest building operated by Amherst College. Built as a tavern, it has been owned by the College since 1924. It was recently renovated, with the interior space being redesigned and modernized. An earlier rear addition to the house and old outbuildings were demolished and the vegetation, which concealed the house from the road, was also removed.

Solomon Boltwood House (1745)

by Dan/September 8, 2011/Amherst, Colonial, Houses

Solomon Boltwood built the house at 243 Amity Street in Amherst around 1745. His brother, Samuel, built the Boltwood-Stockbridge House on the UMASS campus. Solomon Boltwood was the grandfather of Elijah Boltwood, proprietor of the famous Boltwood Tavern.

Three Cod Inn (1680)

by Dan/August 20, 2011/Colonial, Marblehead, Taverns

At 82-84 Front Street in Marblehead is a 1680 gambrel-roofed building known as Three Cod Inn. It was a tavern in the colonial period and a meeting place for patriots during the Revolutionary War. According to tradition, in 1775 the British frigate Lively fired several warning shots onto the shore, one of which struck the tavern. The cannon ball remained embedded in the wall for many years until it was later found and then placed with the Marblehead Historic Society. Known for many years as the Old Tavern, the building has more recently been used as a restaurant.

John Holton House (1692)

by Dan/August 16, 2011/Colonial, Danvers, Houses

At 27 Centre Street in Danvers, in what was the old Salem Village of the Salem Witch Trials, is a house built in 1692 by John Holton, a cooper. He died in 1721 and the house passed to his widow Mary and then to Joseph Buxton, the son of his sister Elizabeth. Buxton, also a cooper, died in 1750 and his son, Anthony, sold the house in 1777. The house has a Beverly jog.