Ritter House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ritter House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1796 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000169 |
| Added to NRHP | December 6, 1977 |
The Ritter House is a very old and special house in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. It's also known as the Jirah Luce House. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site in the USA.
The Ritter House is one of the few buildings left in Vineyard Haven that shows the Federal style of architecture. This style was popular when the United States was a new country. Over the years, many different people have lived in and used this house. Today, it's a shop!
Contents
What is the History of the Ritter House?
How Old is the Ritter House?
The Ritter House was built in 1796. That's over 200 years ago! It was built on a street once called "Quality Street." This street was right next to a big hotel, the Mansion House. Vineyard Haven was the main port for the island of Martha's Vineyard.
Who Lived in the House First?
The house was first built by Jirah Luce. Later, a respected doctor named Rufus Spaulding lived there. Dr. Spaulding was from Connecticut. He lived in the house until about 1812.
Dr. Spaulding used the house as an inn, a place where travelers could stay. He was a very important person in town! People said he was a doctor, postmaster, and even a judge. He also ran the town's first library from this house. The house was even a tavern at one point. After Dr. Spaulding, his daughter Sophronia and her husband, Thomas West, inherited the house.
Who Else Called the Ritter House Home?
Another early person to live in the house was Stephen deNeuville. He was a young French sea-captain. His daughter, Hannah Chase DeNeuville, and her husband, Orrick Peck Branscomb, later owned the house. Orrick Branscomb was a shoemaker and owned a general store. He moved to the island from Maine in the 1830s. Because of them, some old books call this house the "Branscomb House."
Did the House Survive a Big Fire?
Yes, it did! In 1883, a huge fire swept through downtown Vineyard Haven. It destroyed almost everything. The fire stopped right at the edge of the Ritter House property. The house was very lucky to survive!
Who Were the Ritters?
In 1902, a retired whaling captain named Gilbert L. Smith bought the house. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Ritter bought it in the early 1900s. Henry Ritter was the principal of the Tisbury School for many years. People remembered him as a great teacher, even if he was a bit strict!
By the 1920s, Mrs. Evangeline Merrill Ritter owned the house. Many people knew her as "the Vineyard Weaver." She was famous for her weaving skills.
How Did the House Become a Historic Site?
In 1976, the Martha's Vineyard Historical Preservation Society bought the Ritter House. They wanted to protect its history. The very next year, in 1977, the house was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special place in American history.
From 1981 to 1988, the Society rented the house to the Tisbury Museum. After that, the Society worked to fix up and restore the house. Today, the Ritter House is used as a retail store.
