Sanborn House (Winchester, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sanborn House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 15 High Street, Winchester, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | Clinton M. Hill and Thomas M. James |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000286 |
| Added to NRHP | December 14, 1981 |
The Sanborn House is a historic building in Winchester, Massachusetts. It's one of the few large country homes left in the area. Oren Sanborn bought the land for it in 1904. His father, James Sanborn, helped start the famous Chase & Sanborn Coffee Company.
Contents
A Look Back: The Sanborn House Story
Building a Grand Home
Oren Sanborn and his wife, Lorena (also called Rena), moved to Winchester in 1901. They wanted a special home. The Sanborn House was built for them in 1906 and 1907. It cost a lot of money back then, about $250,000!
The house was designed in a style called Beaux-Arts. This style was popular at the time. Architects Clinton M. Hill and Thomas M. James created its look.
Life at Aigremont
The Sanborns named their new home "Aigremont." It looked simple on the outside. But inside, it was very fancy! The Sanborns were important people in Winchester. Oren was part of local clubs. Rena helped start the Winchester Hospital. She also worked hard to raise money for the hospital for many years.
New Owners and Saving the House
In the early 1920s, the Sanborn family's money became less. They had to sell their beautiful house. The Downes family bought it next. They owned a lumber company in Boston. The Downes family lived there for about 20 years.
After World War II, many big old homes were torn down. But the Downes family made a choice that saved the Sanborn House. They sold it to a group of nuns called the Religious of Christian Education. The nuns built a school, Marycliff Academy, on the land. They used the Sanborn House as their home.
The Town Steps In
In 1969, the Town of Winchester bought the school and the Sanborn House. The school became the Ambrose Elementary School. The Sanborn House was used for different town groups. Later, it became home to the town's Recreation Department.
In 1981, the Sanborn House became very special. It was one of the first buildings in Winchester to be put on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historic places across the country.
The house was empty for a while starting in 2003. This was because a new Ambrose School was being built. In 2005, the Massachusetts Historical Commission saw how important the Sanborn House was. They gave money to the Winchester Historical Society. This money helped plan how to fix up the house.
The Sanborn House Today: A Community Center
A New Purpose
In 2006, the Winchester Historical Society made a deal with the town. They agreed to take care of the Sanborn House. Their goal was to fix it up. They wanted to turn it into the Sanborn House Historical and Cultural Center. This center would be a place for the whole community. It also became the home for the Historical Society.
Keeping Things Running
In 2010, the Society hired its first Executive Director. This person helped manage the house. Now, a Site Manager handles the daily tasks. They make sure the house is kept well. They also help with renting out spaces for events.
Restoring Its Beauty
In 2011, a big project started. Workers began fixing the outside of the house. This work was partly paid for by a grant. A grant is money given for a specific project. The Massachusetts Historical Commission helped with this. The outside of the Sanborn House now looks beautiful again!
