Weeks House (Greenland, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Weeks House
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Weeks Ave. off NH 33, Greenland, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000131 |
| Added to NRHP | June 20, 1975 |
The Weeks House, also called the Old Brick House, is a special historic building in Greenland, New Hampshire. It was built around the year 1710. This makes it one of the very oldest brick buildings in the entire New England area. An early member of the important Weeks family, who were well-known in New Hampshire politics, built this house. Today, a family group helps to keep the house in good condition. The Weeks House was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Contents
Exploring the Weeks House: History and Design
The Weeks House is located right in the middle of Greenland. You can find it at the end of Weeks Avenue, which is a short street off New Hampshire Route 33. The house is a two-story building made of brick. It has a pointed roof and chimneys on each end. The front of the house has five sections for windows and doors, but they are not perfectly even. The main door is a little off-center. Above the front door, there is a special arched window with many small glass panes.
Uncovering the True Age of the Weeks House
For a long time, people thought the Weeks House was the oldest house in New Hampshire. They believed it was built in 1638. This idea came from a mistake when reading old records. The land where the house stands was first given to Samuel Haines many years ago, during New Hampshire's early colonial times. His son-in-law, Leonard Weeks, later built a house near Samuel's.
The brick house you see today was most likely built in the 1710s. Leonard's son, Samuel Weeks, probably built it. Leonard's original wooden house was attached to the brick house, but it was destroyed by a fire in 1938.
The Weeks Family: A Legacy in Politics
The Weeks family has a long and interesting history. Many family members were involved in state and national politics. Important figures like John Wingate Weeks and Sinclair Weeks were part of this family. The house stayed with the Weeks family until 1968.
In 1975, a group of family members bought the property back. They turned the 33-acre area into land that is protected for nature. They also made part of the house into a museum. This way, people can visit and learn about its history.
Building Styles: A Look at Early Brick Houses
The exact year the Weeks House was built is not known for sure. However, it seems to have been built after the MacPheadris–Warner House in nearby Portsmouth. That house was built between 1716 and 1718. It was one of the first brick houses in northern New England.
The Weeks House and the MacPheadris–Warner House share similar building styles. It is possible that the skilled bricklayers who built the MacPheadris–Warner House, who came from Boston, Massachusetts, left behind building methods that were then used to construct the Weeks House.
See also
