Jonathan Green House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Jonathan Green House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 63 Perkins St., Stoneham, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Built | 1720 |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Colonial Vernacular |
| MPS | Stoneham MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002627 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1984 |
The Jonathan Green House is a very old and special home in Stoneham, Massachusetts. It was built a long time ago, between 1700 and 1720, when America was still a group of colonies. This house is one of the oldest buildings in Stoneham. It's also one of only two buildings there that still looks almost exactly as it did in the early 1700s! In 1984, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical landmark.
How the House Was Built
When the Jonathan Green House was first built, it was quite simple. It started as just one main room. This room had two sections, called "bays," and a chimney at one end. The main door and stairs were right in front of this chimney.
Interestingly, the area next to the chimney on the east side was used as a stable for animals! Today, the main part of the house is two and a half stories tall. It has five sections (bays) across the front and is one room deep. There is a large chimney in the middle of the house.
The front door used to have simple flat columns, called "pilasters," on each side. It also had a decorative top piece, known as an "entablature," but this is no longer there. The house also has smaller, single-story parts, called "ells," that stick out from the northeast and northwest corners.
Who Lived Here?
The Green family lived in this house for many years, through the 1700s and 1800s. The most famous person to live here was Capt. Jonathan Green. He was a very important person in Stoneham.
Captain Green was the town clerk and treasurer, which meant he helped manage the town's records and money. He also represented Stoneham at a special meeting in 1787. This meeting, called the Constitutional Convention, took place in Philadelphia. Its goal was to create the United States Constitution, which is the main set of rules for our country.
The House as a School
The Jonathan Green House wasn't just a home; it was also a school! In 1825 and 1826, children in Stoneham came here to learn.
Later, in 1853, some land from Stoneham became part of Melrose Highlands. Because of this change, families living near the town line, including those in the Jonathan Green House, were allowed to send their children to school in the town of Melrose.
