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Edwin Abbot House facts for kids

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Edwin Abbot House
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
Edwin Abbot House - 1 Follen Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4061.JPG
Edwin Abbot House is located in Massachusetts
Edwin Abbot House
Location in Massachusetts
Edwin Abbot House is located in the United States
Edwin Abbot House
Location in the United States
Location 27 Garden Street,
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Area less than one acre
Built 1889 (1889)
Architect Longfellow, Alden & Harlow
Architectural style Romanesque
Part of Follen Street Historic District (ID86001681)
NRHP reference No. 79000354
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Added to NRHP May 10, 1979
Designated CP May 19, 1986

The Edwin Abbot House, also known as the Zabriskie House, is a very old and important house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is located at 27 Garden Street. This house was built in 1889. It was designed by a famous architecture firm called Longfellow, Alden & Harlow.

The house is a great example of a building style called Richardsonian Romanesque. This style uses strong, heavy stone and round arches. Since 1937, the house has been the main building for the Longy School. Today, it is known as the Longy School of Music of Bard College. The Edwin Abbot House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it is recognized as a special historical place.

What Makes the Edwin Abbot House Special?

The Edwin Abbot House is in western Cambridge, not far from Harvard Square. It sits at a unique spot where several streets meet. The house's main front faces Follen Street. However, its main entrance today is in a newer part of the building. This entrance faces the busy Garden Street and Concord Avenue intersection.

The main part of the house is about two and a half stories tall. It is built using two different colors of granite blocks. These are gray and rust-colored stones. Red sandstone is used for the decorative parts. The roof is covered with red slate tiles. The front of the house has three main sections. One part sticks out and has many sides, topped with a pyramid-shaped roof. The main door is under a curved stone arch. Stone bands wrap around the building. These bands act as both window sills and the tops of the windows.

A Look Inside the Historic House

Inside the Edwin Abbot House, you will find a grand entrance hall. It has beautiful wooden details. There is also a large, impressive staircase. These features show the high quality of the original design. The rooms in the mansion are now used by the Longy School of Music. They serve as offices for staff and practice rooms for students.

Who Lived in the Edwin Abbot House?

The house was built in 1889 for a man named Edwin Hale Abbot. He was a lawyer and also worked as a leader for a railroad company. The Abbot family lived in the house until 1937. After that, the house became home to the Longy School.

In the 1960s, a new part was added to the north side of the house. This addition was designed by Huygens and Tappe. It holds the Pickman Concert Hall. This hall is used for musical performances and events by the school.

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