Gov. George S. Boutwell House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gov. George S. Boutwell House
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Gov. George S. Boutwell House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Groton, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1851 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Italianate |
| Website | http://www.grotonhistoricalsociety.org |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001431 |
| Added to NRHP | January 5, 2005 |
The Gov. George S. Boutwell House is a special old house located at 172 Main Street in Groton, Massachusetts. It was once the home of George S. Boutwell, who was the Governor of Massachusetts. Built in 1851, this historic house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Today, it is the headquarters of the Groton Historical Society, where people can learn about the past.
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About the Boutwell House
The Boutwell House sits on the north side of Main Street in the middle of Groton. It is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. The house shows off a style called Italianate. It has a main part and other sections that were added later in the 1800s.
Architectural Style and Features
The main part of the house has cool features on the outside. It has special blocks on the corners called "quoins." There is also a "water table" at the bottom, which is a raised part to protect the foundation. The roof edges, called "eaves," are decorated with fancy brackets. The front of the house has three sections, with the main entrance in the middle. A deep, flat porch, called a "portico," covers the entrance. It is held up by square posts. The house also has some elements of the Greek Revival style.
History of the House and Its Famous Owner
The house was built in 1851 for George S. Boutwell. At that time, he was the Governor of Massachusetts. Governor Boutwell and his family were the only people who lived in the house for many years. When his daughter, Georgianna, passed away in 1933, she left the house to the Groton Historical Society.
The house was a very important place for Governor Boutwell. Light filled his front study, just as it does today. He used to prepare his speeches there. A large window looked out over Station Avenue. This allowed him to see trains arriving from Boston. Governor Boutwell would stand by the window and wave to his guests. Downstairs, in the red-walled drawing room, he would host important people. These included federal and state officials. Even President Ulysses S. Grant visited and stayed overnight in 1869.
The House Today: A Museum
Today, the Boutwell House is a museum. It displays furniture and decorative art from the past. It also has special exhibits that change over time. These exhibits are shown in a rotating gallery.
Restoration and Reopening
In 2010, the Boutwell House had a big problem. Two water pipes burst, flooding parts of the museum. This damaged the exhibition and work areas. The Groton Historical Society needed help to fix it.
Funding for Repairs
The Groton Historical Society's Board of Directors worked hard to get money for repairs. They received a grant of $176,525 from the Community Preservation Act. This grant was approved by the town of Groton in April 2013. They also received another grant of $79,000. This came from the Cultural Facilities Fund in November 2012. These grants helped a lot.
Renovations and Reopening
The money was used for important renovations. This included new electrical wiring and plumbing. They also replaced damaged plaster. A fire suppression system was installed for safety. A new furnace was put in as well. The first part of the repair work was finished. The house was then reopened to the public on October 5, 2013.
See also
