Barrett House (New Ipswich, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Barrett House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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A front view of Barrett House
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | New Ipswich, New Hampshire |
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| Built | c. 1800 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Part of | New Ipswich Center Village Historic District (ID91001173) |
| Designated CP | September 3, 1991 |
The Barrett House, also known as Forest Hall, is a beautiful old mansion built around 1800. It is located in New Ipswich, New Hampshire. This house is a great example of the Federal style, which was popular in the United States after the American Revolution.
Today, the Barrett House is a special place. It is a nonprofit museum run by an organization called Historic New England. You can visit it on certain days of the year to see what life was like long ago. There is a small fee to enter.
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Contents
History of the Barrett House
How Forest Hall Was Built
People say that Forest Hall was built as a wedding gift. It was for Charles Barrett and his new wife. Charles's father was a very successful farmer in town. He had invested in many businesses. These included a glass factory, a road where people paid to use it (a toll road), and a system of waterways (a canal system). Most importantly, he invested in New Hampshire's first cotton mill, which made cloth.
Inside the Mansion
The inside of the house was decorated very nicely. It had many rooms where people could gather. These rooms were designed for hosting fancy parties and important guests. This showed that the family had a sophisticated way of life.
The Beautiful Gardens
Later, a grand outdoor path was added to the property. This path is called an allée. It had stone steps with maple trees on both sides. The path went up the hill behind the house. At the very top, there was a lovely small building called a summerhouse. This was a place to relax and enjoy the views.
Changes Over Time
After a while, the town of New Ipswich became less important. This happened because the railroad was built somewhere else. The Barrett family continued to live in the house. However, after 1887, they only used Forest Hall during the summer months. The house still looks much like it did in the Federal era. In 1950, the family gave the house to Historic New England. This made sure it would be preserved for everyone to enjoy.
Barrett House in Movies
The Barrett House has even been in a movie! It was one of the places where the 1979 film The Europeans was filmed. This movie was based on a book by Henry James.
More About the Barrett House
- New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 137: Barrett House
