Smith House (Ipswich, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Smith House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 168 Argilla Rd., Ipswich, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1720 |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| MPS | First Period Buildings of Eastern Massachusetts TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000238 |
| Added to NRHP | March 9, 1990 |
The Smith House is a very old and special home in Ipswich, Massachusetts. People also call it the Tilton-Smith House. It was built a long, long time ago, around the early 1700s. This makes it a great example of what homes looked like during America's very first building period.
In 1998, the house was badly damaged by a fire. But don't worry! It was carefully fixed up and made beautiful again. Because of its history, the Smith House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This list helps protect important places in America.
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About the Smith House
The Smith House is located in a quiet, country-like part of eastern Ipswich. You can find it on the north side of Argilla Road. Tall plants and trees hide it a bit from the road.
What the House Looks Like
This house is a classic colonial style. It has two and a half stories. There are five windows across the front. A big chimney sits right in the middle of the house. The back of the house has a sloped roof that goes all the way down. This part was built at the same time as the rest of the house, not added later.
Inside, you can still see some of the original wooden beams. These show how houses were built during the "First Period." But the house also has some newer features from the Georgian period. For example, some ceilings are plastered smooth. There is also fancy wood paneling. Even the stairs to the second floor look more Georgian. The front door has a small, pointy roof over it. This is called a Greek Revival style porch.
How Old is the Smith House?
We don't know the exact year the Smith House was built. Experts who study old buildings think it was made towards the end of the First Period. This building style ended around 1725. Other clues suggest it might have been built around 1720. A man named Abraham Tilton, Jr. might have been the first owner.
Fire and Restoration
In 1998, a fire caused a lot of damage to the house. But the owners worked very hard to fix it. They used old building methods. They even found old materials from other 18th and 19th-century buildings to make it look just right. This careful repair work helped save a piece of history. The Ipswich Historic Commission helps protect the house.
