Reed Homestead facts for kids

Reed Homestead, with murals possibly painted by Rufus Porter.

The Reed Homestead is a very old house in Townsend Harbor, Massachusetts. It was built around 1809. Today, it is a special museum where you can learn about history.

Discover the Reed Homestead

The Reed Homestead is famous for its amazing wall paintings, called murals. These murals are on the second floor of the house. They were painted a long time ago, between 1800 and 1835.

Who Painted the Murals?

Many people believe the murals were painted by Rufus Porter. He was a very interesting person! He even started Scientific American magazine. Porter was known for painting beautiful scenes directly onto the walls of homes.

His murals at the Reed Homestead are some of the best examples still around. This is because most of his other murals have been covered up or faded away. It's like finding a hidden treasure!

A Glimpse into the Past

The Reed Homestead is a two-story house built in the Federal style. It was built for Oliver Reed Jr. in 1809. Four generations of the Reed family lived here.

In 1973, the Townsend Historical Society bought the house. They wanted to protect its history. Many things inside the house are still original. You can see the wide pine floors and old glass windows. There's even a special "mammy bench" in the kitchen.

While some modern things like electricity were added in the 1920s, the house still feels like it did in the 1800s. It's like stepping back in time! Besides the murals, the house has old clothes and furniture from the Reed family.

Visiting the Museum

Today, the Reed Homestead is a non-profit museum. The Townsend Historical Society takes care of it. You can visit the house to see the murals and learn about life long ago.

The museum is located at 72 Main Street (Route 119). It is open from Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.