Bidwell House Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rev. Adonijah Bidwell House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Monterey, Massachusetts |
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| Built | c. 1762 |
| Architectural style | Georgian Saltbox, Classic Colonial, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004954 |
| Added to NRHP | August 26, 1982 |
The Bidwell House Museum is a historic house and museum located in Monterey, Massachusetts. It was once the home of Reverend Adonijah Bidwell, the first minister in this area. Today, it's a place where you can learn about life in the 1700s and 1800s.
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The Historic Bidwell House
This special house was built around the 1760s. It was the home of Reverend Adonijah Bidwell, who was the very first minister in what was then called "Township No. 1." Back then, the house was a central spot in the community. It was even located on the important Boston-Albany Post Road, a major travel route.
The house is built in a style called Saltbox. It has a large central chimney that connects to four fireplaces and two beehive ovens. These ovens were used for baking. The chimney structure is supported by a strong Roman Arch in the basement. Over the years, two additions were built onto the house: the Ell Addition in the 1820s and a Greek Revival/Carriage Barn addition in the 1840s.
A Look at History
General Henry Knox's Journey
Reverend Bidwell was a strong supporter of the American cause during the American Revolution. He was known as a patriot. A very famous person from that time, Henry Knox, led an important mission. He moved many heavy cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Dorchester Heights near Boston. This was a huge challenge, especially in winter!
Knox's journey likely took him through Monterey on the old post road. It's possible he even passed right by the Bidwell property. Some history experts believe he might have stopped at the house. Perhaps he stayed for a night or picked up supplies during his difficult winter trip. This famous journey is now remembered by the historic Henry Knox Trail.
Who Owned the House?
Reverend Bidwell passed away in 1784. He left the house to his son, also named Adonijah. Adonijah the Younger used the house and its land, which was about 125 acres (0.5 km²), as a family farm. Later, when he was older, he sold the house to his own son, John Devotion Bidwell, for a very small amount of money, showing his love and affection.
In 1853, after being owned by the Bidwell family for 103 years, John Devotion Bidwell sold the house to the Carrington family. At that time, John Bidwell was an important person in the town of Monterey, Massachusetts, which had just officially become a town in 1847.
The Carrington family owned the house for three generations, which was 61 years. In 1914, they sold it to a lumber company. The company used the house as a base for their work in the area. After that, an Art School bought it. The school used it as a home for its teachers until 1935. By this time, the house had a new name: "Deepwood Manse." By the 1950s, the house was starting to fall apart.
Bringing the House Back to Life
In 1960, two fashion designers from New York City, Jack Hargis and David Brush, bought the house. They also bought 196 acres (0.79 km²) of land around it for $30,000. They spent the next 25 years carefully restoring the house.
They were very lucky to find a list of all the things Reverend Bidwell owned when he died. This list helped Hargis and Brush fill the restored house with furniture, art, and other items from that time period. Many of these items were even similar to what the Reverend himself had owned!
The Bidwell House Today
The Bidwell House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. In 1990, the house officially became a museum. This happened because David Brush wanted it to be a museum after he passed away.
Today, the museum is open for tours from Thursday through Monday. You can visit between Memorial Day and Columbus Day. It's open from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and guided tours of the house start every hour. The museum also hosts special events.
See also
