Franklin Pierce House (South Main Street, Concord, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Franklin Pierce House
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The Pierce House in 1961, photo by Samuel Gottscho
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 52 S. Main St., Concord, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1852 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Demolished | September 17, 1981 (fire) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000318 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1979 |
The Franklin Pierce House was a very old and important house in Concord, New Hampshire. It was built in 1852. This house was special because it showed off a building style called Second Empire architecture. It was also one of the homes where Franklin Pierce, a former United States President, lived. Both President Pierce and his wife, Jane, passed away in this house. Sadly, a fire destroyed the house on September 17, 1981.
The Franklin Pierce House
The Franklin Pierce House was located in Concord, New Hampshire. It stood on South Main Street, among other similar houses. This house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This list helps protect important historical sites in the United States.
What Did It Look Like?
The house was quite tall, with three stories. The top floor was under a special type of roof called a mansard roof. This roof style is a key part of Second Empire architecture. The house was made of brick. However, its outside was covered to look like brownstone, a popular building material.
The roof had windows called dormers. These windows had rounded tops and decorative columns on their sides. The front of the house had three main sections. The main door was in the middle. A small porch with square posts and a fancy edge covered the entrance.
A Home for President Pierce
The Franklin Pierce House was built in 1852. When it was first built, it had an Italianate style with a flat roof. Later in the 1800s, it was updated to the Second Empire style. This is when the mansard roof was added.
The house is most famous because of its connection to Franklin Pierce. He was the 14th President of the United States. After he left the White House, President Pierce and his family lived in this house. They stayed there at different times as boarders.
A famous writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, visited the Pierces here in 1864. This was shortly before Hawthorne passed away. Both President Pierce and his wife, Jane, also died in this house. It was a significant place in their lives.
Sadly, the Franklin Pierce House was destroyed by a fire on September 17, 1981.
