John Greenleaf Whittier House facts for kids
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John Greenleaf Whittier House
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John Greenleaf Whittier Home, Amesbury, Massachusetts
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 86 Friend St., Amesbury, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1811 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000792 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 29, 1962 |
The John Greenleaf Whittier Home is a special old house located in Amesbury, Massachusetts. It was the home of a famous American poet named John Greenleaf Whittier. He was also an abolitionist, meaning he worked to end slavery. Whittier lived here from 1836 until he passed away in 1892.
Today, the house is a museum that you can visit. It is open from May 1st to October 31st, and there is a small fee to enter. This historic home was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1962. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
Contents
The History of Whittier's Home
The John Greenleaf Whittier House was first built in 1811. Back then, it was a small, one-and-a-half-story wooden cottage. It had four rooms on the main floor and one room in the attic. A kitchen area and a small shed were later added to the back.
Whittier bought this house in 1836. He wanted a place for himself, his mother, his aunt, and his sister Eliza to live. He stayed in this house for the rest of his life, until 1892. Most of his famous poems and stories were written right here. This includes his well-known poem, Snow-Bound, which he wrote in the Garden Room.
Changes to the House Over Time
The Whittier family made many changes to the house during the 80 years they owned it. Soon after buying it, Whittier added a new bedroom to the southeast side. In 1847, with help from a kind Quaker named Joseph Sturge, the house became much bigger.
The new bedroom was made larger and turned into a sitting room and study. A porch was added to the east side of the house. Also, a full second floor was built over the eastern half of the house.
Keeping Whittier's Legacy Alive
After Whittier died in 1892, his niece, Lizzy Pickard, did not want to keep the house. So, in 1898, the Whittier Home Association was created. Their goal was to save the house and remember Whittier's life.
In 1904, Lizzy's son, Greenleaf Pickard, decided to live in the house. He made more additions, partly to protect the original parts Whittier used. The west side of the house was also raised to two full stories. The old kitchen area was replaced with a new two-story addition. The front porch you see today likely dates from this time. The old kitchen building was moved and is now a small separate building.
Later, the Whittier Home Association bought the house. They opened it as a museum for everyone to visit. The house and its furniture are almost exactly as they were when the poet passed away. You can see the living rooms, bedroom, and Whittier's writing study with all his belongings.
Whittier's birthplace is also open to the public. It is called the John Greenleaf Whittier Homestead and is in nearby Haverhill.
See also
