Dole–Little House facts for kids

Front view of the Dole–Little House

Side view of the house from High Road

The Dole–Little House is a very old and special house located in Newbury, Massachusetts. It's like stepping back in time! Today, it's a museum run by an organization called Historic New England. You can visit it sometimes to see what life was like long ago.

Discovering the Dole–Little House

The Dole–Little House is a historic building that shows us how people lived hundreds of years ago. It's not just a house; it's a piece of history you can explore. Historic New England, a group that saves old places, takes care of it. They open it to the public for special tours, so you can see its unique features and learn about its past.

How Old is This House?

The main part of the Dole–Little House was built around the year 1715. That's over 300 years ago! Imagine all the history that has happened since then. What's even cooler is that the builders used parts from an even older building, maybe from around 1670. So, some pieces of this house are even older than 1715!

Who Lived Here First?

The first person to own and live in this house was a man named Richard Dole. He was a cattleman, which means he raised cows. When the house was first built, it had a simple design: just two rooms and a big chimney in the middle. There was also a small kitchen area at the back. Over time, this small kitchen was replaced with a larger addition.

Bringing History Back to Life: Restoration

For many years, the Dole–Little House stood as a quiet reminder of the past. But in 1954, a woman named Florence Evans Bushee bought the house. She had a special plan: she wanted to make the house look just like it did when it was first built!

What Happened During Restoration?

During Mrs. Bushee's restoration project, many changes were made to bring the house back to its original style. For example, the larger kitchen addition at the back was carefully taken down and rebuilt using new wood, but in the old style. Also, some special windowpanes from the front of the house were moved to this new back section.

A Piece of the House in a Museum

One interesting thing that happened during the restoration is that some of the beautiful wooden wall panels from one of the rooms were taken out. These original panels were then put on display in a special exhibition room at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.. To make sure the Dole–Little House still looked complete, a copy of these panels was made and put back in the original room.

The House Today

After Mrs. Bushee passed away in 1975, the Dole–Little House became the property of Historic New England. They continue to care for this amazing old house, making sure it stays safe and can teach future generations about life in the early 1700s. It's a wonderful example of how we can preserve history!