John Whipple House facts for kids
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John Whipple House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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John Whipple House
Ipswich, Massachusetts |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1 South Green, Ipswich, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1677 |
| Architect | Whipple, John |
| Architectural style | Salt Box |
| Part of | South Green Historic District (ID80000471) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000791 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960 |
| Designated CP | September 17, 1980 |
The John Whipple House is a very old and important house in Ipswich, Massachusetts. It was built a long time ago in the 1600s. Today, you can visit it as a museum! It was one of the first houses to be recognized as a special National Historic Landmark in 1960. This means it's a really important part of American history.
Contents
The Story of the John Whipple House
Building a Home in the 1600s
Captain John Whipple started building this large wooden house in 1677. It was located at the corner of Saltonstall and Market Streets. At first, it was a "half-house" with a chimney on the right side.
In 1690, his son, Major John Whipple, made it bigger. He added another "half-house" next to the first part. This made the house much larger.
By 1705, even more parts were added to the west side. These were smaller, one-story sections called "lean-tos." They included a kitchen, a pantry for food, and sleeping areas. These extra rooms were for people who worked for the family.
Around 1710, the roof on the west side was made taller and extended over the lean-tos. This created four more rooms with sloped ceilings. The house then had 14 rooms in total, plus a usable attic. It was a very big house for its time! It was even called "The Mansion" for over 100 years.
Changing Styles in the 1700s
In the 1720s, a daughter who inherited the house decided to update it. She changed the outside and some of the inside to match the popular Georgian style. This meant removing the pointed gables from the front.
The old windows, which had small diamond-shaped glass panes, were replaced. New sash windows, which slide up and down, were put in. The main front door was also changed to a paneled door with a window above it.
Inside, the rooms got new plaster on the ceilings and walls. This covered up the wooden beams that were once visible. The house stayed in this style for many years.
A New Purpose: From Home to Museum
By the late 1800s, the house was not in good shape. It had been used by mill managers and then as a place where many mill workers lived. It was quite run-down.
In 1898, the Ipswich Historical Society bought the house. They wanted to save it and show what a 17th-century home looked like. They worked to restore parts of the inside to how they thought it looked originally. They also put back windows and doors that looked like the 17th-century ones.
The house opened to the public as a museum in 1899. In 1927, it was moved to its current spot. It now sits on 10 acres (4.0 ha) of land with woods and gardens. It faces the same direction as it did originally.
Modern Restoration and Recognition
In the 1950s, workers found a lot of termite damage in the front of the house. The house had to close for a big restoration project. During this work, they found proof that the house once had two gables on the front. So, they added these back during the restoration.
New windows were installed with hand-blown glass, just like in the 17th century. The house reopened to visitors. In 1960, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This was one of the very first buildings to get this special honor! It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
In 2002, scientists used a method called dendrochronology to study the wood. This helped them confirm that the house was definitely built in 1677.
Today, the house still has its original wooden framework made of oak, tamarack, pine, and chestnut. Some of the old sash windows from the 1690s are still in the lean-to rooms. The Ipswich Historical Society is now called the Ipswich Museum. You can take tours of the house from late May to late October, Thursdays through Sundays.
Gallery
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Front of the John Whipple House
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Back of the John Whipple House
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Inside the kitchen
See also
