Orchard House facts for kids
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Orchard House
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Orchard House, summer 2013
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| Location | 399 Lexington Road, Concord, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| Built | c. 1700–1710 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000781 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 29, 1962 |
Orchard House is a special historic house museum in Concord, Massachusetts, USA. It first opened to the public on May 27, 1912. This house was the home of Amos Bronson Alcott and his family for many years. His famous daughter, Louisa May Alcott, lived here too. She wrote her well-known novel, Little Women, in this very house. The story of Little Women is also set at Orchard House.
The four Alcott daughters lived here from 1858 to 1877. They were Anna, Louisa, Elizabeth, and Abigail.
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History of Orchard House
The house was first built a very long time ago, between 1690 and 1720. The Alcott family first moved to Concord in 1840. They left in 1843 to start a special farm called Fruitlands. This was a utopian farm in nearby Harvard.
The family came back to Concord in 1845. They bought a house named "Hillside." But they left again in 1852. They sold "Hillside" to Nathaniel Hawthorne, who renamed it The Wayside.
The Alcotts Move In
The Alcotts returned to Concord once more in 1857. They moved into Orchard House in the spring of 1858. At that time, it was a two-story farmhouse. The property also had a 12-acre apple orchard. This is why the Alcotts named it "Orchard House."
When they bought it, Orchard House was quite old and needed repairs. The Alcotts stayed in another house nearby while it was fixed. Bronson Alcott was very happy with their new home. He called it "a pretty retreat" and "a family mansion to take pride in."
Bronson Alcott's Changes
Bronson Alcott made many changes to the house. He added special spaces for statues from his old school. He fixed the stairs and put in bookshelves. He also built a studio in the back for his youngest daughter, May, to do her artwork. He even put up a rustic fence around the property.
He also moved a smaller house next to the main house. This made one bigger building. While the house was being fixed, the family rented rooms next door. This was at The Wayside, while the Hawthorne family was in England. Later, a visitor named Lydia Maria Child described the house. She said it was "full of queer nooks and corners." She felt it looked like an old house from the Middle Ages.
Orchard House is right next to The Wayside. It is on the historic "American Mile" road towards Lexington. It is also close to the home of Ralph Waldo Emerson, called Bush. Henry David Thoreau and the Alcotts often visited Emerson there.
Life at Orchard House
Orchard House was the Alcotts' most permanent home. They lived there from 1858 to 1877. The family included Bronson, his wife Abigail May, and their daughters Anna, Louisa, and May. Sadly, Elizabeth, who inspired the character Beth March in Little Women, had died just before they moved in.
The Alcott girls became friends with the Hawthorne children next door. Bronson Alcott was a bit sad that he didn't get to talk much with Nathaniel Hawthorne. But he noted that Hawthorne had a "tender kindly side."
Family Life and Activities
The Alcotts were vegetarians. They grew fruits and vegetables in their gardens and orchard. They often talked about important ideas at the dining room table. These ideas included ending slavery, giving women the right to vote, and other social reforms. The family also put on plays. They used the dining room as their stage, and guests watched from the next room.
The parlor was a formal room. Bronson built special arches there to show off statues of his favorite thinkers. These were Socrates and Plato. On May 23, 1860, Anna Alcott married John Bridge Pratt in this room.
The youngest daughter, May, was a very talented artist. Her bedroom has drawings of angels and other figures on the wood and doors. In Louisa's room, May painted calla lilies and an owl on the fireplace. Copies of Turner paintings by May are in different rooms.
Louisa Writes Little Women
In 1868, Louisa May Alcott wrote her famous book, Little Women, in her room. She used a special "shelf desk" that her father built. The story is set in the house. The characters are based on her family members. The plot is loosely based on the family's earlier years.
Bronson Alcott also wrote several books in the house. These included Ralph Waldo Emerson (1865), Tablets (1868), Concord Days (1872), and Table Talk (1877).
The Concord School of Philosophy
Outside the house, Bronson Alcott built a structure. It was first called "Hillside Chapel." Later, it became "The Concord School of Philosophy." This school ran from 1879 to 1888. It was one of the first very successful places for adults to learn in the country.
In 1877, Louisa May Alcott bought a home on Main Street for her sister Anna. After their mother died that same year, Louisa and her father moved there too. The Alcott family officially moved out of Orchard House by November 14. Orchard House was then sold to a family friend, William Torrey Harris, in 1884. Louisa said she was "glad to be done with it." But she also said it was "full of memories" after living there for 25 years.
Orchard House Today
Orchard House is open for guided tours every day. It is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and January 1 and 2. There is a fee to visit.
The outside of the house looks much like it did when the Alcotts lived there. Great care has been taken to keep the repairs hidden. About 75% of the furniture and items inside belonged to the Alcott family. The rooms look very much as they did when the Alcotts were living there.
The dining room has family china and portraits. It also has paintings by May and old furniture. The parlor has old-style wallpaper and a patterned rug. Family portraits and watercolors by May are on the walls.
In the kitchen, you can see Abigail May's bread board and other cooking tools. There is also a laundry drying rack designed by Bronson. Louisa bought the soapstone sink. Bronson's library table, chair, and desk are in the study. The parents' bedroom has many of Abigail May's things. These include photographs, furniture, and handmade quilts.
Orchard House continues Bronson Alcott's tradition. Since 1977, it has hosted "The Summer Conversational Series." They have also added a "Teacher Institute." The Hillside Chapel is used for programs for young people. It also hosts poetry readings, historical reenactments, and other special events.
See also
