Ahearn House and Summer House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ahearn House and Summer House
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NPS photo
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 Location in Cape Cod
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 450 Pamet Point Rd., Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, Massachusetts |
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| Built | c. 1800; 1851 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000575 |
| Added to NRHP | November 21, 1984 |
The Ahearn House and Summer House are two special old buildings in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. They are located on Pamet Point Road. The smaller building, called the "summer house," is a very old cottage from the early 1800s. The main house was built a bit later. Both buildings are important examples of how houses were built long ago in this area. These houses were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means they are recognized as important historical sites.
Contents
What are the Ahearn Houses?
The Ahearn House and Summer House sit on a piece of land on the north side of Pamet Point Road. This road is in a quiet, natural area of Wellfleet. It leads to the Bound Brook area within the Cape Cod National Seashore.
The Main House
The main house is a one-and-a-half story building. It is made with a strong timber frame, which means its structure is built from large wooden beams. It has a pointed roof, called a gable roof. The front of the house is covered with horizontal wooden boards called clapboards. The sides are covered with wooden shingles. The house sits on a foundation made of brick.
The front of the main house has four sections, or "bays." The main door is in the second section from the left. Simple flat columns, called pilasters, frame the doorway.
The Summer House
The summer house is a smaller, single-story cottage. It measures about 13 feet by 18 feet (about 4 by 5.5 meters). It also has a gable roof and its outside is covered with wooden shingles. The front of this house has one window that can slide up and down, called a sash window. The entrance is on the right side of the front. A small addition with a sloping roof, called a shed-roof addition, extends from one side.
History of the Ahearn Houses
The main Ahearn House was built sometime after 1817. We know it was definitely built by 1851. That year, Daniel Lombard, who likely built the house, sold the property to Justun Williams. The house stayed in the Williams family for many years, even into the 1900s. Later, Joseph Ahearn owned it for a long time, which is how the house got its name.
Some old records mistakenly linked the house to someone named David Curran from the 1700s. However, that information was incorrect.
The summer house is clearly older than the main house. It was probably already standing on the property when Justun Williams bought it in 1851. It's possible this smaller building was used as a toolshed or a workshop. It looks similar to other old workshops found in other parts of Cape Cod.
Images for kids
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The main Ahearn House.
See Also
