Fitch–Hoose House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Fitch–Hoose House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Dalton, Massachusetts
Area	less than one acre
Built	1846 (1846)
Built by	William H. Bogart
NRHP reference No.	10000390
Added to NRHP	June 24, 2010

The Fitch–Hoose House is a special old home located in Dalton, Massachusetts. It is also sometimes called the Hoose House. This wooden house was built way back in 1846. It is an important example of homes where African Americans lived in Dalton during the 1800s. Today, the town owns this historic house. It has been carefully restored to look like it did long ago. Because of its history, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

The Fitch–Hoose House: A Historic Home

The Fitch–Hoose House stands on the edge of Dalton village. This area was known as "The Gulf." Many African Americans who were freed or had escaped slavery settled here in the early 1800s. The house helps us understand what life was like for these communities.

What Does the House Look Like?

The Fitch–Hoose House is a small, one-and-a-half-story building. It is made of wood and has a pointed roof called a gable roof. There is a brick chimney on one side. The outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboards.

The front of the house has three sections. The main door is slightly off-center. It has windows on either side. The top floor, or attic, is taller than many houses from the mid-1800s. Any old window openings on the attic floor are now covered. A smaller section with a slanted roof extends from the back of the house.

Who Lived Here? The Story of the House

The Fitch–Hoose House has a rich history tied to the people who lived in it. It tells a story about the African American community in Dalton.

Henry Fitch and Early Owners

The house was built in 1848 by a builder named William Bogart. He quickly sold it to Henry Fitch. Henry Fitch was an African American man who lived in the area. Over the years, the house had a few different owners. One owner was Zenas M. Crane, a very important person in the local papermaking business.

The Hoose Family's Legacy

In 1868, Charles Hoose bought the house. The Hoose family was an African American family that had lived in Dalton since at least 1830. They were an important part of the community. The Hoose family lived in this house for a very long time, all the way until 2001.

Saving the House Today

After the Hoose family left, the house became empty. In 2004, the town took ownership of the property. Since then, the local historic commission has worked hard to restore the house. Their efforts help preserve this important piece of history for everyone to learn from.