Cogswell's Grant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cogswell's Grant
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| Location | 60 Spring St |
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| Nearest city | Essex, Massachusetts |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000666 |
| Added to NRHP | April 19, 1990 |
Cogswell's Grant is a special farm and old house in Essex, Massachusetts. It's now a museum where you can see how people lived long ago. This place was once the summer home of Bertram K. and Nina Fletcher Little. They were famous for collecting beautiful American art and furniture from the past.
The Littles were top collectors of American decorative arts in the mid-1900s. Mrs. Little did a lot of research and wrote many books. She helped people learn about "country arts," which is another name for American folk art. This included things like painted furniture, floor coverings, and old pottery from New England.
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A Special Summer Home
In 1937, the Littles bought this farm. It had an 18th-century farmhouse with great views of the Essex River. They wanted it as a family getaway and a place to host friends. They named it Cogswell's Grant after John Cogswell. He was the first English owner of this land, which is about 165 acres.
Restoring the Old Farmhouse
The Littles carefully fixed up the farmhouse. They worked hard to keep its original 18th-century look. They also wrote down everything they did to preserve the house. They filled the house with items from their huge collection.
Collecting Unique Treasures
For over 50 years, the Littles collected many interesting things. They looked for items with a strong, even unusual, character. They especially liked objects that still had their original paint or finish. They also loved items with a history from New England.
They decorated the house to look beautiful and fun, not just to be perfectly old-fashioned. The house feels very special and is full of collections. You can see old paintings, red pottery, painted furniture, and stacked Shaker boxes. There are also weather vanes and wooden decoys. These kinds of items now help define the "country look" in decorating.
Cogswell's Grant Today
Bertram Little was the president of a group called the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities for many years. This group is now known as Historic New England. In 1984, the Littles gave Cogswell's Grant to this organization. They included all the items inside the house and their records.
Visiting the Farm
Part of the 19th-century barn, located north of the house, has been made into a visitor center. The back part of the house has also been changed. It now has a place for a caretaker to live and restrooms for visitors.
Cogswell's Grant is open for public tours. You can visit from Wednesday through Sunday, between June 1 and October 15.
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