Derby Summer House facts for kids
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Derby Summer House
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Derby Summer House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Danvers, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1793 |
| Architect | McIntire, Samuel |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 68000020 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1968 |
| Designated NHL | November 24, 1968 |
The Derby Summer House is a special building. It was designed in 1793 by a famous architect named Samuel McIntire. People also call it the McIntire Tea-house.
Today, you can find this historic summer house in Danvers, Massachusetts. It sits on the beautiful grounds of Glen Magna Farms. Since 1958, the Danvers Historical Society has owned and cared for it. This building is very important. It is a National Historic Landmark. It's one of the best examples of an 18th-century summer house. It even has some of the first American sculpture on its roof!
Contents
What is the Derby Summer House?
This amazing building was designed in the Federal style. It was built for a wealthy man named Elias Hasket Derby. He had a large farm in Salem, Massachusetts. The house is about 20 feet wide and 20 feet long. It stands 2½ stories tall.
Its Unique Look
The house is decorated with many fancy details. You can see pilasters (flat columns) and swags (carved fabric designs). There are also Grecian urns. On the very top, there are wooden statues. These statues look like a Reaper and a Shepherdess (a milkmaid).
The ground floor has big arched openings. These are on the east and west sides. They are like grand doorways. Next to them are arched windows. These windows have special wooden keystones. The second floor is also very decorative. It has more swags and fluted Ionic pilasters.
A Glimpse from the Past
In 1802, a young lady wrote about her visit. She described the house in her diary. She loved how "pure and cool" the air was from the windows. She also enjoyed the "beautiful landscape below." She felt the room was "calculated for serenity and peace." This means it was a calm and relaxing place.
The House on the Move
The Derby Summer House was not always in Danvers. In 1901, it was moved. It traveled about 4 miles from its original spot. Now, it opens onto a lovely walled rose garden. This garden was designed by Herbert Browne.
The Missing Statues
The two statues on top of the house are not the originals. The Shepherdess statue went missing during the move. Twenty years later, it was found! It was on top of a mill building in Andover, Massachusetts. Sadly, it was damaged by fire. A new duplicate was carved in 1924. The original Shepherdess is now on display. You can see it at the Peabody Institute.
The original Reaper statue also had an adventure. It fell in a storm in 1981. A new one was made to replace it. The original Reaper is now part of the Danvers Historical Society collection.
A National Treasure
The Derby Summer House is very important. In 1968, it was named a National Historic Landmark. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special part of American history.
Images for kids
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Interior, second floor.
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