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 special old house and museum. It is located on Art School Road in Monterey, Massachusetts, United States. This house has a long and interesting history.
Contents
The Bidwell House: A Look Inside
This historic house was built around 1762. It was built by Reverend Adonijah Bidwell. He was the very first minister in what was then called Township No. 1. Back then, the house was right in the middle of town life. It was also on the important Boston-Albany Post Road.
The house has a classic "Saltbox" shape. This means it has a long, sloping roof at the back. It is built around a large central chimney. This chimney has four fireplaces and two beehive ovens connected to it. A strong Roman Arch in the basement helps support the chimney. The house also has two parts added later. One was built in the 1820s, and another in the 1840s.
History of the Bidwell House
Henry Knox and His Journey
Reverend Bidwell was a patriot. This means he strongly supported the American Revolution. He helped the United States Army. A famous general named Henry Knox led an important mission. He moved large cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to Dorchester Heights. This journey likely took him through Monterey on the post road.
It is thought that Knox might have passed by the Bidwell property. He may have even stopped at the house in the middle of winter. Perhaps he stayed a night or got supplies. This famous journey is now part of books and films. It is also remembered by the historic Henry Knox Trail.
Who Owned the House?
Reverend Bidwell passed away in 1784. He left the house to his son, Adonijah the Younger. His son used the house and its land as a family farm. At that time, the property was about 125 acres (0.5 square kilometers). Later, Adonijah the Younger sold the house to his own son, John Devotion Bidwell. He sold it for "love and affection and one dollar."
In 1853, John Devotion Bidwell sold the house to the Carrington family. The Bidwell family had owned the house for 103 years! John Bidwell was an important person in Monterey. He was a selectman, which is like a local leader. He was also a justice of the peace.
The Carrington family owned the house for three generations. This was for 61 years. In 1914, they sold it to a lumber company. The company used the house as a base for their work. Then, they sold it to an Art School. The school used it as a house for their teachers until 1935. By then, it was called "Deepwood Manse." By the 1950s, the house was starting to fall apart.
Bringing the House Back to Life
In 1960, two fashion designers bought the house. Their names were Jack Hargis and David Brush. They were from New York City. They bought the house and 196 acres (0.79 square kilometers) of land. They paid $30,000 for it. For the next 25 years, they worked hard to restore the house.
They were lucky to find a list of Reverend Bidwell's belongings. This list showed everything he owned when he died. Hargis and Brush used this list to fill the house. They found old furniture, artwork, and other items. Many of these were like the ones Reverend Bidwell had owned.
The Bidwell House Today
The Bidwell House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it is a very important historical site. In 1990, the house became a museum. This happened because David Brush wanted it to be a museum after he passed away.
Today, you can visit the museum. It is open for tours from Thursday through Monday. This is between Memorial Day and Columbus Day. It is open from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Guided tours of the house start every hour. The museum also hosts special events.
See also
