Spencer–Peirce–Little Farm facts for kids
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Spence–Peirce–Little House
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Spencer–Peirce–Little Farm, Newbury, Massachusetts
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| Location | Newbury, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1690 circa |
| Architect | Peirce, Daniel |
| NRHP reference No. | 68000043 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1968 |
| Designated NHL | November 24, 1968 |
The Spencer–Peirce–Little Farm is an old farm located in Newbury, Massachusetts, in the United States. It sits on a large area of open land, about 231 acres, near the Merrimack River and Plum Island Sound. The main house on the farm was built around 1690.
This farmhouse is very special because it's one of the few stone houses from the 1600s left in New England. Because it's so rare and important, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1968. Today, the farm is a museum run by a group called Historic New England. You can visit it during the warmer months to learn about its history.
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Contents
A Look at the Farm's History
The land where the Spencer–Peirce–Little Farm stands has a long history. It was first given to a person named John Spencer in 1635. At that time, the large 400-acre plot was used to raise cattle for the community.
Who Owned the Farm Through the Years?
In 1651, Daniel Peirce Sr., a blacksmith from England, bought the property. He paid 500 pounds for it. By the time he passed away in 1677, the farm was worth much more, about 1,200 pounds. This big jump in value might mean that the stone house was built while he owned the land.
Later, in 1861, a local farmer named Edward H. Little bought the farm. His family kept the house mostly the same for many years. In 1986, his family gave the property to the Historic New England organization. This group now takes care of the farm and shares its history with visitors.
How the Farmhouse Was Built
The farmhouse is made from local stone, put together in a style called "random rubble." Parts of the house, like the porch and the ends of the roof, are made of brick. The outside walls are held together with a special kind of cement called lime mortar. It's the only stone house from the 1600s in New England that still has its original outside walls.
The floors and roof of the house are made with strong wooden beams. These beams fit into special spaces in the outside walls. You can see fancy molded bricks around the entrance and arched openings, which add to the house's unique look. The original arched windows were changed to smaller, more modern ones in the 1700s.
Changes to the House's Inside Layout
The way the house is set up inside today, with a chimney in the middle and an extra part at the back, is mostly how it was originally. However, some walls were added in the east and north rooms. The base of the original central chimney is still in the cellar, supported by two wide brick arches. But the part of the chimney above the cellar was taken down in the late 1700s.
Exploring the Farm Today
Today, the Spencer–Peirce–Little Farm is a fun place to visit and learn. There's a smaller building at the back that was once for a tenant farmer. It's connected to the main house by a covered walkway.
What You Can See at the Museum
Other buildings on the property include a carriage barn, which is now used for museum exhibits. There's also a large barn. About 230 acres of the farmland are still used for growing crops. There are also walking paths for visitors to enjoy the beautiful open space.
The house itself has been set up to be interesting for kids and families. You can see different rooms decorated to show how they looked in different time periods:
- A parlor (living room) that looks like it did in the early 1800s, set up for tea.
- A kitchen that has been restored to look like it did in the 1930s.
- A dining room that looks exactly as it was recorded in the 1940s.
The museum also has exhibits that explain the archaeological digs done at the site. You can see furniture and old glass and ceramic dishes that were put back together from pieces found there. It's a great way to imagine what life was like hundreds of years ago!
