Swetland-Pease House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Swetland-Pease House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | East Longmeadow, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 1.32 acres (0.53 ha) |
| Built | 1793 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000505 |
| Added to NRHP | April 9, 1980 |
The Swetland-Pease House is a very old and special home located in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. It was likely built around 1793, which makes it over 230 years old! This house is one of the few buildings from the 1700s that are still standing in the town. It's also one of the best-preserved old houses there. Because of its history and how well it has been kept, the Swetland-Pease House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's officially recognized as an important historical site.
What Does the Swetland-Pease House Look Like?
The Swetland-Pease House sits on Pease Road in a quiet, partly rural area of East Longmeadow. The main part of the house is two and a half stories tall. It's made of wood and has a roof that slopes down on two sides, like many older homes. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding. The foundation, which is the base of the house, is made from local sandstone.
On each side of the main house, there are smaller, one-and-a-half-story sections. These parts were added later, in the 1800s. The front door is a bit fancy, with thin, flat columns on either side. These columns are in a style called Federal, which was popular when the house was built.
Inside, the house still has many of its original features. Imagine stepping back in time! You can see four old fireplaces, wide wooden floors, and special glasswork in the dining room. There's also original wainscoting, which is wooden paneling on the lower part of the walls.
Who Lived in This Historic Home?
The Swetland-Pease House was probably built around 1793 by a person named Benjamin Swetland. The first official owner recorded in 1831 was Eli Swetland. Later, the house became home to members of the Pease family for many years. In fact, Pease Road, where the house is located, is named after this family!
One of the Pease family members who lived there was Marvin Pease. He was an important person in the local community. He helped make decisions for the town by serving on the school committee and working as a town assessor.
The Swetland-Pease House is one of only two houses in East Longmeadow that are known to be from the 1700s. The other old house is called the Elijah Burt House, and it's also on the National Register of Historic Places. These two homes give us a peek into what life was like in East Longmeadow more than 200 years ago!
