Stephen Rowe Bradley House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Stephen Rowe Bradley House
|
|
 |
|
 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 43 Westminster St., Walpole, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Area | 4.9 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1808 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001445 |
| Added to NRHP | December 22, 2005 |
The Stephen Rowe Bradley House is a historic house found at 43 Westminster Street in Walpole, New Hampshire. This large house was built around 1808. It was first made for Francis Gardner, who was a lawyer and also served in the state government. Later, from 1817 to 1830, it became the home of Stephen Rowe Bradley. He was a very important lawyer, judge, and politician from Vermont. Stephen Rowe Bradley played a big part in helping Vermont become the fourteenth state in the United States. He even represented the independent Vermont Republic in talks about its borders. This house is the only place connected to Bradley's life that is still standing today. Because of its history, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Contents
What Does the House Look Like?
The Stephen Rowe Bradley House is on the south side of Westminster Street in Walpole's village center. It's a big house with two and a half stories, made of wood. It has a special roof style called a hip roof and two brick chimneys inside. The outside is covered with clapboards, which are long, thin pieces of wood.
The main part of the house has a kitchen area and a separate wing where servants used to live. Behind the house, there's also an old barn from the early 1800s. The house shows off a beautiful style called "Federal period" architecture. This means it has special flat columns, called pilasters, on the corners and around the main entrance. The front door has columns next to it and a small porch, called a portico, supported by thin, round columns. Above the main entrance, there's a unique window with three parts, known as a Palladian window.
Who Lived in the Stephen Rowe Bradley House?
The house was built around 1808 for Francis Gardner. He was a local lawyer and also involved in politics. In 1817, Stephen Rowe Bradley bought the house, and it was his home for the rest of his life.
Stephen Rowe Bradley's Important Role
Stephen Rowe Bradley was a very important person in early American history. He served as a United States Senator from Vermont three times! He was key in helping Vermont join the United States. In the 1780s, he was the main lawyer, or attorney general, for the Vermont Republic during important discussions. These talks helped Vermont become a state. This house is the only building still standing that has a strong personal connection to him. When it was added to the National Register in 2005, the house was still owned by his family members.
Why Is This House Special?
The Stephen Rowe Bradley House is special because it's a great example of Federal style architecture from the early 1800s. More importantly, it's the only known place still existing that was home to Stephen Rowe Bradley, a key figure in Vermont's history and its journey to becoming a state. Preserving this house helps us remember and learn about important moments and people from the past.
