The Dutch House (Brookline, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Dutch House
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 20 Netherlands Rd., Brookline, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1893 |
| Architectural style | Dutch High Renaissance |
| MPS | Brookline MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000093 |
| Added to NRHP | January 24, 1986 |
The Dutch House is a special historic building in Brookline, Massachusetts. It's a four-story building made of brick. Today, it has several homes inside.
This unique building wasn't always in Brookline. It started its life as an exhibition hall. This was at the famous 1893 World's Fair in Chicago.
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A House from the World's Fair
At the 1893 World's Fair, this building was known as the Dutch Cocoa House. It was built by the Van Houten Cocoa Company. This company made cocoa products. The building was one of the few private buildings at the fair to win a medal!
Dutch Design and Details
The Dutch House is a very close copy of the Franeker City Hall in Franeker, Netherlands. It shows off a style called Dutch High Renaissance. This style was popular in the Netherlands a long time ago.
The building has many cool details. Its front door frame has stone animals carved into it. This part is a copy of the Enkhuizen Orphanage. Inside, you would find big ceiling beams and wooden panels. The original dining room had beautiful blue and white Delftware tiles. Some of these tiles were over 300 years old!
The outside of the house is also special. It has a tall, sloped roof called a mansard roof. This roof covers two floors. The building also has unique stepped gables. Its windows are amazing, with more than 12,000 small pieces of green glass.
Moving a House Brick by Brick
After the World's Fair ended, the Dutch House was bought by Charles Brooks Appleton. He lived in Brookline and had seen the building at the fair. He loved it so much that he decided to move it!
The building was carefully taken apart, brick by brick. Then, all the pieces were moved to its current spot in Brookline. It was put back together exactly as it was. Some of the brickwork was later covered to look like stone.
A Historic Landmark
The Dutch House is very important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This means it's a special building that needs to be protected.
The street where it stands, Netherlands Road, was even named after the house! Because it was built by the Netherlands and looks like a Dutch building, it's a great example of Dutch design in the United States.
Images for kids
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The Dutch House in Brookline, Massachusetts.
