Captain Lemuel Clap House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Captain Lemuel Clap House
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Captain Lemuel Clap House
Location in Massachusetts
Location	Boston, MA
Built	1765
Architectural style	Colonial, Federal
Part of	Clapp Houses (ID74000911)
Added to NRHP	May 2, 1974

The Captain Lemuel Clap House is a really old and special house in Dorchester, Massachusetts. It was built around 1767. Today, it is owned by the Dorchester Historical Society. This group helps keep history alive. They open the house for tours a few times each month. It is one of two historic Clapp Houses that the society owns. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important places in American history.

The Story of the Captain Lemuel Clap House

A House with a Long History

People think a house has been on this spot since about 1633. Some believe today's house might be a much older one that was made bigger. There is no strong proof for this idea. But, the Clapp family history says the first house was built around 1633. It was built by Roger Clapp, one of the first settlers of Dorchester in 1630. His family member, Lemuel Clap, then rebuilt and enlarged it in 1767.

However, the Historical Society also has clues. These clues suggest an earlier house was built by the Ward family. This would have been at the start of the 1700s.

Moving a Historic Home

Most people agree that Lemuel Clap built most of the house we see today in 1767. The Dorchester Historical Society bought the house in 1945. Later, in 1957, they moved it. They carefully moved it several hundred yards from its old spot to where it stands now. Inside the house today, you can see many interesting items. These items are from the Historical Society's collection. They help tell the story of the area.

Visiting the House

You can visit the historic houses of the Dorchester Historical Society. They are open on the second Sunday of each month. You can stop by between 11 AM and 4 PM.