Colonel John Ashley House facts for kids
|
Col. John Ashley House
|
|
.JPG) |
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 117 Cooper Hill Rd., Sheffield, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Area | 4.9 acres (2.0 ha) (original size) 35 acres (14 ha) (after boundary increase) |
| Built | 1735 |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001915 (original) 75002172 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | February 10, 1975 |
| Boundary increase | August 11, 1975 |
The Colonel John Ashley House is a special old house in Sheffield, Massachusetts. It's like a museum now, showing what life was like long ago. John Ashley, an important person in the area, built this house in 1735. It's one of the oldest homes in southern Berkshire County. Today, a group called The Trustees of Reservations takes care of it. This house is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very important historical site.
Contents
What the Ashley House Looks Like
The Ashley House is in a quiet, countryside part of Sheffield. It sits on a large piece of land, about 35 acres. The house itself is quite old, built with wood and having two and a half stories. It has a sloped roof on the sides and a chimney in the middle. There's also a part that sticks out from the back, also with a chimney.
The outside of the house is covered with wooden boards called clapboards. The front of the house has five windows and a fancy main doorway. This doorway has tall, flat columns and a decorative top. The house shows what homes looked like in the early 1700s in America. Inside, you can see furniture and items from the 1700s and early 1800s. You can visit the house for tours on weekends from late May through early October.
A Look into History
Building the House and John Ashley's Role
John Ashley built this house in 1735. He moved to Sheffield from Westfield. The wood for the house was cut using the very first sawmill known in Berkshire County. John Ashley was a very important person in his community. He led the local soldiers during the French and Indian War.
The Sheffield Declaration
In 1773, a very important document was written in an upstairs room of this house. It was called the Sheffield Declaration. This paper was a protest against the rules the British government was making. It also spoke about the rights that all people should have. It was a big step towards American independence.
Helping the War Effort
When the American Revolutionary War started, John Ashley was too old to fight. But he still helped a lot! He played a key role in making iron in nearby Salisbury, Connecticut. This iron was very important for making weapons and tools needed for the war.
Elizabeth "Mum Bett" Freeman's Fight for Freedom
A truly inspiring event happened in 1781. A woman named Elizabeth "Mum Bett" Freeman lived in the Ashley household. She bravely went to court to gain her freedom. She used the new Massachusetts Constitution to argue for her rights. She won her case, and this important court battle helped end slavery in Massachusetts. Her story is a powerful example of fighting for justice.
Gallery
-
Interior detail
_-_china_cabinet.JPG)
See also
