Gen. Sylvanus Thayer House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gen. Sylvanus Thayer House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 786 Washington Street, Braintree, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1720 |
| Architectural style | New England Saltbox |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000372 |
| Added to NRHP | December 3, 1974 |
The Gen. Sylvanus Thayer House is an old and important home in Braintree, Massachusetts. It is also known as the Sylvanus Thayer Birthplace. This historic house is now a museum run by the Braintree Historical Society. It is called the Thayer House Museum and is open all year.
This house is famous because General Sylvanus Thayer was born here. He is known as the "father of West Point." West Point is a very important military academy in the United States.
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History of the Thayer House
The Thayer House is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It was first built in 1720 by Nathaniel Thayer. Over the years, the house was made bigger. This happened in the 1760s and again in the 1800s.
General Sylvanus Thayer's Early Life
General Sylvanus Thayer was born in this house in 1785. He lived here until 1793, when he was about eight years old. His family was a middle-class farming family. Today, the house is set up to look like it did when the Thayer family lived there.
Moving the Historic House
In 1958, a company bought the land where the house stood. Instead of tearing it down, they decided to save it. The house was carefully taken apart. Then, it was moved about one mile down Washington Street to its current spot.
About 60% of the original wood timbers are still in the house. The other parts were replaced during its restoration. New materials were used that matched the style of the late 1700s.
The Thayer House Museum
The Thayer House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it is recognized as a very important historic site. The Braintree Historical Society runs the house as a museum.
In the same year, the Historical Society built a new barn next to the house. This barn looks just like old barns from that time. Both the house and the barn have exhibits inside. They are open for people to visit and learn about history.
The West Point Cannon
On the front lawn of the Thayer House, there is a special cannon. This cannon was a gift from the United States Military Academy at West Point. It is a symbol of General Thayer's important connection to West Point.
Restoring the Cannon
The cannon and its carriage have been fully restored. The wheels were rebuilt by experts. A wheelwright worked on the wood parts. A blacksmith worked on the iron tires. They used old tools and methods from the past.
The restoration work was done in Colonial Williamsburg. On June 21, 2015, the wheels were put back on. A special ceremony was held on the lawn of the Thayer House. The craftsmen who restored the cannon were there.
See also
