General Rufus Putnam House facts for kids
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General Rufus Putnam House
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General Rufus Putnam House, c. 1934
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rutland, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 135 acres (55 ha) |
| Built | 1871 |
| Architectural style | 2-story rectangular frame, hipped roof |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001330 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | 28 November 1972 |
| Designated NHL | 28 November 1972 |
The General Rufus Putnam House (also called the Bliss–Murray–Putnam House) is a really old and important house in Rutland, Massachusetts. It's located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. This house is so special that it's been named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's recognized by the United States government for its important history.
Contents
A House with a Story
Who Lived Here First?
This two-story wooden house was built a long, long time ago, between 1760 and 1765. It was built by a man named John Murray. He had moved to America from Scotland and Ireland.
John Murray became a "Mandamus Councillor." This was a special job where he helped the governor and king enforce tax laws. He was only answerable to them, not to the local people.
The American Revolution
As tensions grew before the American Revolutionary War, many people in America wanted to be free from British rule. John Murray, however, was a "Loyalist." This meant he supported the King of England.
On August 24, 1774, an angry crowd of people forced John Murray to leave his home. He had to escape to Boston and later to New Brunswick, Canada. He never came back to the house.
Murray's daughter had married Daniel Bliss. They were also Loyalists and lived in the house. During the American Revolutionary War, the government of Massachusetts took over the property because it belonged to Loyalists.
General Rufus Putnam's Home
On May 24, 1781, a famous person named General Rufus Putnam bought the house. He bought it from the government for 993 pounds. General Putnam lived in the house until 1788.
He then left to help settle new lands in what was called the Northwest Territories. He was a leader of the Ohio Company of Associates. There, he helped start the town of Marietta, Ohio. He even built another home there, which is also a historic site!
A National Landmark
In 1972, the General Rufus Putnam House was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was also named a National Historic Landmark. This was done because of its strong connection to General Rufus Putnam and his important role in American history. Today, the house is used as a bed and breakfast, where people can stay and experience its history.
What the House Looks Like
The General Rufus Putnam House is a two-story house made of wood. Its outside is covered with overlapping wooden boards called "clapboard." It has a special kind of roof called a "hipped roof," which slopes down on all four sides. There are also two brick chimneys inside the house.
In the early 1900s, a two-story section was added to the back of the house. The front of the house has five window sections, with the main door in the middle. The doorway has tall, flat columns called "pilasters" on each side. Above the door, there's a small window called a "transom window" and a flat, triangular decoration called a "pediment."
Inside the main part of the house, there are four rooms on each floor. These rooms are built around a central hallway that has a staircase. Many of the bedrooms on the second floor still have their original wooden walls. This includes special wooden panels called "pine wainscoting" and "paneling." Some of the floors on the first level have been replaced using old floorboards from the attic.
