Nathan C. Aldrich House and Resthaven Chapel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nathan C. Aldrich House and Resthaven Chapel
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 111 Providence St., Mendon, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 4.9 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | c. 1830 |
| Architect | Parker, Gurdon Saltonstall; Phillips, Wendell |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000399 |
| Added to NRHP | May 17, 2006 |
The Nathan C. Aldrich House and Resthaven Chapel are two old buildings in Mendon, Massachusetts. The house was built around 1830. It shows off a style called Greek Revival architecture. The chapel was finished in 1900 and has a Late Gothic style. Both buildings are important because they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Discovering the Aldrich House and Chapel
This historic property is found in a quiet, country part of Mendon. It sits on the west side of Providence Street. A small stream called Spring Brook runs nearby.
The Nathan Aldrich House: A Stone Marvel
The Nathan C. Aldrich House is a two-story building. It is made from strong granite stones. These stones were cut and shaped from local quarries. The house has a pointed roof, called a gabled roof. It also has several smaller sections, or "ells," that get smaller as they go back.
The front of the house faces south. It has five sections, or "bays," with a main door in the middle. This door has a special window above it, called a transom. Inside, many of the original parts of the house are still there. This is true even though the house was used for different things over time.
The Resthaven Chapel: A Peaceful Place
The chapel is also built from stone. It is located at the back of the property. From the chapel, you can look out over Spring Brook. This building was added later, in 1899–1900.
A Look Back at History
We don't know the exact year Nathan Aldrich's stone house was built. Experts think it was around 1830. This is because of its Greek Revival style. Stone farmhouses from that time were rare in Mendon. They were often owned by Quakers, like Nathan Aldrich.
From Retreat to School and Estate
In 1891, Catherine Regina Seabury bought the property. She created a quiet place for women to relax there. She also had the chapel built between 1899 and 1900.
Later, in 1912, the retreat became a boarding school. However, the school closed after Catherine Seabury passed away in 1929. The next owner was Doctor Joseph Ashkins. He turned the property into a large country estate. He removed many of the changes made for the school.
See also
