Merwin House (Stockbridge, Massachusetts) facts for kids
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The Merwin House, also known as Tranquility, is a historic home in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, USA. It's like stepping back in time! Today, it's a museum run by a group called Historic New England. Sometimes, you can visit it and see what life was like long ago. There's usually a small fee to get in.
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A Look Back: The History of Merwin House
How Merwin House Was Built
The Merwin House was first built around 1825. It was made of brick and designed in a style called Federal architecture. This style was popular in the United States after the country became independent. The Dresser family were the first owners.
New Owners and Big Changes
In 1875, a family named Doane, William and Elizabeth, bought the house. They lived in New York City and used Merwin House as their summer getaway. The Doanes made the house much bigger! They added a new section that was twice the size of the original house. This new part was built in a style called "shingle-style," which used wooden shingles on the outside. They also updated the inside of the house.
Becoming a Museum
The Doanes' daughter, Vipont Merwin, was born in the house in 1878. She lived there until she passed away in 1965. After her death, she gave the house to the public. In 1966, Historic New England took over the property. They turned it into a museum so people could learn about its past.
What You Can See Today
Today, the Merwin House museum shows what life was like in the late 1800s. You can see furniture and decorations from that time. Many of the items were collected by the Doane family during their travels around the world. It's a great way to imagine how people lived over a hundred years ago!
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