Harlow Old Fort House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Harlow Old Fort House
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Harlow Old Fort House in 2009
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 119 Sandwich Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts |
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| Built | c. 1700 |
| Architectural style | Gambrel Cape |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001762 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1974 |
The Harlow Old Fort House is a very old and important house located at 119 Sandwich Street in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It's known for its special "First Period" style of building. This means it was built a long time ago, when the first European settlers were establishing colonies in America.
Contents
A Look Back at the Harlow Old Fort House
How the House Was Built
Legend says that Sergeant William Harlow built this house in 1677. He supposedly used strong wooden beams from the Pilgrims' first fort. This fort was built on Burial Hill way back in 1621 or 1622.
William Harlow got permission to use these timbers. This happened after the fort was taken down. The fort was no longer needed after King Philip's War ended in 1677.
When Was It Really Built?
In 1996, an expert who studies old buildings looked closely at the house. This expert found that the house was likely built around 1700 or even later. So, while the legend is interesting, the house might be a bit newer than people first thought.
Who Owned the House?
The Harlow family owned this house for almost 250 years! That's a very long time for one family to live in the same home.
Later, the Plymouth Antiquarian Society bought the house. This society works to preserve old buildings and history. They hired Joseph Everett Chandler to help fix up and restore the house.
Visiting the Harlow Old Fort House
The Antiquarian Society opened the Harlow Old Fort House to the public in 1921. This means people could visit and learn about its history.
In 1974, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places in the United States. Today, the house is still open for visitors. You can even see people dressed up in seventeenth-century clothes, showing what life was like back then!
Images for kids
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Burial Hill Fort, where some of the home's timbers may have come from
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Fort recreation at Plimoth Patuxet
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Harlow House
More to Explore
- Plymouth Village Historic District
- Sgt. William Harlow Family Homestead
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Plymouth County, Massachusetts
- List of the oldest buildings in Massachusetts
Find Out More Online
- Harlow Family website
- Plymouth Antiquarian Society
See also
In Spanish: Antigua Fortaleza Harlow para niños
