Loring–Greenough House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Loring–Greenough House
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South and west facades
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 Location in Massachusetts
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| Location | 12 South St., Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) |
| Built | 1760 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000544 |
| Added to NRHP | April 26, 1972 |
The Loring–Greenough House is a very old and important house in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, a neighborhood of Boston. It is the only house left from the 1700s in a historic area called Sumner Hill. You can find it at 12 South Street, right on Monument Square. This house is a special landmark because it shows us what homes were like a long time ago.
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Building a Historic Home
This large house was built in 1760. It was designed in the Georgian style, which was popular back then. It was built as a country home and farm for a rich British naval officer named Commodore Joshua Loring. His property was huge, covering about 60 acres!
During the American Revolution
Joshua Loring was a "Loyalist," meaning he supported the British King during the time leading up to the American Revolution. Because of this, he left the house in 1774, just before the war started. He completely fled Boston in 1776.
After he left, American colonial forces took over the house. In 1776, it was used as a headquarters for General Nathanael Greene. Soon after, it became a hospital for soldiers from the Continental Army (the American army) who were injured during the Battle of Bunker Hill.
New Owners and Preservation
In 1780, the house was sold to Isaac Sears, a rebel leader from New York. Then, in 1784, a wealthy widow named Ann Doane bought it. She later married David Stoddard Greenough. The Greenough family lived in this house for five generations, which is a very long time! They stayed there until 1924.
By the late 1850s, parts of the large property started to be divided up and sold. In 1924, a group called the Jamaica Plain Tuesday Club bought the house and almost two acres of its beautiful land. They did this to save it from being torn down and to preserve it for the future. The Tuesday Club is now a community group that works hard to keep the house and grounds in great condition. They even got a large grant of $350,000 for recent repairs and painting.
Exploring the House and Gardens
The Loring–Greenough House is very well-preserved. It is about 4,500 square feet in size. The property includes big, open lawns, old-fashioned flower beds, and lovely trees. The whole area is fenced and has gates.
You are welcome to visit the grounds during the day. The Tuesday Club also hosts many events inside and outside the house throughout the year. It's a great place to learn about history and enjoy nature.
Visiting the Loring–Greenough House
The Tuesday Club still owns and takes care of the Loring–Greenough House. They offer tours on Sundays and have other fun programs and events all year long.
The house is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also named a Massachusetts Landmark and a Boston Landmark in 1999. This means it's a very important historical site that needs to be protected.
Images for kids
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The east side of the Loring–Greenough House
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Beautiful magnolia flowers blooming in early April on the grounds of the Loring–Greenough House
See also
