Dwight–Derby House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dwight–Derby House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 7 Frairy St., Medfield, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1697 |
| Architectural style | Georgian, First period |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001465 |
| Added to NRHP | January 17, 2002 |
The Dwight–Derby House is a very old and special house located at 7 Frairy Street in Medfield, Massachusetts. It's like a time capsule! Experts used a cool method called dendrochronology (which studies tree rings) to find out that the oldest part of the house was built way back in 1697. Another section was added a bit later, in 1713. The town of Medfield bought this historic house in 1996, and it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means it's recognized as an important historical site!
Contents
A Look Back: The House's Story
The first part of the Dwight–Derby House was built in 1697 by John Dwight. He had just gotten married in 1696, so it was a new home for his family. After the Dwight family, another important family, the Derby family, lived in the house for many generations. The first Derby to live there was John Derby. His grandfather was Elias Hasket Derby, who was known as America's first millionaire!
The House Today
Today, the Dwight–Derby House still stands in its original spot. It sits on a half-acre piece of land and has a nice view overlooking Meeting House Pond.
Protecting History: The Friends Group
Soon after the town of Medfield bought the house in 1996, a special group was formed. This group is called the Friends of the Dwight–Derby House, Inc. Their main goal is to help fix up the house, take care of it, and share its amazing history with everyone in the community.
Restoring the Dwight–Derby House
Thanks to many kind donations and special grants, the house has been carefully repaired. These grants came from places like the Massachusetts Historical Commission and the National Trust. Because of these efforts, the Dwight–Derby House has been able to get important structural and outside repairs, helping it stay strong for many more years.
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in Massachusetts
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
