Reed Homestead facts for kids

Reed Homestead, with murals attributed to Rufus Porter, founder of Scientific American.

The Reed Homestead is a really old house in Townsend Harbor, Massachusetts. It was built around 1809. Today, it's a special place called a historic house museum. This means you can visit it to see what life was like long ago.

What is the Reed Homestead?

The Reed Homestead is a historic house museum. It helps us learn about the past. The house is famous for its beautiful wall paintings. These paintings are called murals. They are on the second floor.

A Glimpse into the Past

The house was built around 1809. It was built for Oliver Reed Jr. Four generations of the Reed family lived here. That means his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren lived in this house.

Who was Oliver Reed Jr.?

Oliver Reed Jr. was the first owner of the house. His family lived there for many years. They kept the house in great condition.

Amazing Wall Paintings!

The most special part of the Reed Homestead is its murals. These are large paintings directly on the walls. They were painted between 1800 and 1835. A famous artist named Rufus Porter is believed to have painted them.

Who was Rufus Porter?

Rufus Porter was a very talented artist. He was also the person who started Scientific American magazine. His murals are very rare today. Many of his other paintings have been lost or covered up. The ones at the Reed Homestead are some of the best examples you can find.

Stepping Back in Time

When you visit the Reed Homestead, it feels like you've traveled back in time. Most things inside are original. You can see the wide pine floors. The windows have special "crown glass." There's even a special old bench in the kitchen. Electricity was added in the 1920s. But the house still looks much like it did in the 1800s.

The house also has old clothes. It has many original pieces of furniture. These items help tell the story of the Reed family.

Visiting the Museum

The Townsend Historical Society bought the house in 1973. They now run it as a museum. It is a nonprofit museum. This means it's run for public benefit, not to make money.

You can find the Reed Homestead at 72 Main Street (Route 119). It is open Tuesday through Friday. The hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's a great place to learn about history!