Jacob Thompson House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Jacob Thompson House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 7 Main St., Monson, Massachusetts |
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| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 100005078 |
| Added to NRHP | March 13, 2020 |
The Jacob Thompson House is a special old building located at 7 Main Street in Monson, Massachusetts. It was built a long time ago, around 1811 to 1813, for a farmer and lawyer named Jacob Thompson. This house is quite unique because it shows off a style called Federal architecture, especially with its cool brick ends.
Today, the local historical society owns the house. They have turned it into a museum where people can visit and learn about the past. Because of its history and special design, the Jacob Thompson House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. This means it's recognized as an important part of American history!
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Discovering the Jacob Thompson House
The Jacob Thompson House sits just north of Monson's town center. It's right on the corner of Main and Thompson Streets. The house stands proudly in front of land that used to belong to it, which is now the Hillside Cemetery.
What Does the House Look Like?
The main part of the house is two and a half stories tall. It's made of wood, but it has strong brick walls at each end. The roof slopes down on two sides, a style called a side-gable roof. Inside these brick end walls are the chimneys.
The front of the house is very balanced and neat. It has five sections, with windows placed evenly around the main door. The front door itself is very fancy, showing off the Federal style. It has tall, narrow windows on either side, called sidelight windows. Above the door, there's a beautiful half-oval window that was part of the original design.
Inside the Historic Home
When you step inside, you'll find a traditional layout. There's a main hallway in the middle, with rooms on both sides. The stairs to the second floor are also in this central hall. At the back of the house, there's a smaller, one-and-a-half-story section that holds more rooms.
Who Was Jacob Thompson?
The house was likely built between 1811 and 1813. This was when Jacob Thompson moved to Monson. He was originally from a nearby town called Holland, Massachusetts. Jacob Thompson used to own a gunpowder mill in Holland.
In Monson, he became a busy farmer and a lawyer. He bought a lot of land in the area. After Jacob Thompson passed away in 1884, his son, Addison, sold much of the land connected to the house. This land was then used to create a cemetery. It's thought that the house itself eventually became part of the cemetery's property.
From Home to Museum
In 1998, the town of Monson sold the Jacob Thompson House to the local historical society. This group works to protect and share the history of the area. They have carefully restored the house. Now, it serves as a wonderful house museum. Visitors can explore its rooms and imagine what life was like over 200 years ago!
See also
