Beebe Estate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Beebe Estate
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 235 W. Foster St., Melrose, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 1.75 acres (0.71 ha) |
| Built | 1828 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000116 |
| Added to NRHP | May 20, 1981 |
The Beebe Estate is a special historic building in Melrose, Massachusetts. It was built in 1828. The main house is a great example of Greek Revival architecture, which was a popular style long ago. Many important local and Boston business people have owned this estate. Today, the city owns it. It is used as an art gallery and a place for cultural events. The Beebe Estate was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. This means it is a very important historic site.
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What is the Beebe Estate?
The Beebe Estate is found just west of downtown Melrose. It is on the north side of West Foster Street. You can find it near the railroad tracks and the Beebe School. The building has two stories. It shows off the Greek Revival style very well. This style includes special features like corner pilasters. These are flat, column-like parts on the corners of the building.
Design and Architecture
The front of the house has a grand entrance. This is called a portico. It has tall, fluted Doric columns. These columns have grooves running down them. The portico also has a triangular roof, called a gabled pediment. A railing goes around the hip roof. A hip roof slopes down on all four sides. In the middle of the roof, there is a small tower. This tower is called a cupola. The design of this cupola was inspired by an ancient Greek monument. This monument is the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates from the Acropolis of Athens.
Who lived at the Beebe Estate?
The Beebe Estate was built in 1828. A Boston merchant named William Foster built it. He used it as a summer home. From 1854 to 1963, the Bigelow and Beebe families owned the estate. Both of these families were very important. They included successful business people. They worked in areas like railroads and banking.
The Estate Today
The last owners were the Beebe family. They gave the property to the city in 1963. For a while, the house was used as offices for the school system. Now, it is a cultural center. Local art is shown there on Saturdays. The Beebe Estate Association helps to run these art displays. Some of the front rooms have been updated. They can be rented for special events. This helps the community enjoy this historic place.
See also
