**STATEMENT OF** **KATHERINE H. STEVENSON, ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR,
BUSINESS SERVICES, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND PUBLIC LANDS,
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, CONCERNING H.R. 877, TO AMEND THE ADAMS
NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK ACT OF 1998 TO INCLUDE THE QUINCY HOMESTEAD
WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF THE ADAMS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.**

**March 6, 2008**

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear before your
committee to present the views of the Department of the Interior on H.R.
877, a bill to include the Quincy Homestead in Quincy, Massachusetts
within the boundary of Adams National Historical Park.

The Department opposes H.R. 877, consistent with a 1994 National Park
Service Special Resource Study that did not recommend adding this
property to the Adams National Historical Park.

The Quincy Homestead was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2005
based on its architectural significance; its association with four
generations of Edmund Quincys during the 17^th^ and 18^th^ centuries;
its long association with people of learning and mercantile achievement;
its use as a progressive farm in the 18^th^ century; its path-breaking
early restoration by Joseph Everett Chandler in 1904, and from its
association with the Society of Colonial Dames of America. The Homestead
is also known as the "Dorothy Quincy House." Dorothy Quincy, a daughter
of Edmund Quincy IV, the last Quincy to occupy the Homestead, grew up in
the dwelling and married John Hancock. The Homestead is owned by the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and operated through agreement by the
Society of Colonial Dames of America as a house museum.

The Quincy families were among the significant families of Massachusetts
during their tenures of ownership of the property. All four generations
associated with the site and the house played important roles in local
and colonial military and political activities. Edmund I (1602-1635),
who migrated to Boston from England, was a Boston representative in the
General Court of the Province. Edmund II (1628-1696) was the first major
and lieutenant colonel in Braintree, Massachusetts and representative to
the Massachusetts General Assembly. Edmund III (1681-1738) was Judge of
the Superior Court of Judicature and a member of the Board of Overseers
of Harvard University. Edmund IV (1703-1788) was successful in
partnership with others in mercantile trade.

The Homestead, during the period of occupancy by the Quincy families,
went through a series of phases of construction, with the first being
undertaken by Edmund Quincy II in 1686. Additions and alterations
proceeded in the period 1706-1708 and again in 1737 by Edmund Quincy
III. Circa 1750, Edmund Quincy IV carried out extensive remodeling of
the interior of the structure. The property was sold by the family in
1763.

In 1994, pursuant to Public Law 101-512, the National Park Service
completed a Special Resource Study of a number of historic resources in
Quincy, Massachusetts. The Quincy Homestead was among the resources
analyzed during the course of the study. The study did not recommend
that any resources investigated become units of the National Park System
or that the Quincy Homestead be added to the Adams National Historical
Park. No information has come to the Department's attention that would
alter the conclusions of the Special Resource Study.

The purpose of Adams National Historical Park is to preserve and protect
the grounds, homes and personal property of four generations of the
Adams family and to use these resources to interpret the history they
represent and to educate and inspire current and future generations. We
do not believe that the Quincy Homestead is related to the purposes for
which the park was established, nor does it appear to have any direct
relationship with the Adams family, other than the fact that John Adams
was once a suitor to Dorothy Quincy and a visitor to the Homestead.
While Abigail Adams had Quincy family ancestry on her mother's side, she
never lived at the Homestead. There does not appear to be any direct
connection between John or Abigail Adams and the Homestead that would
categorize the structure as a closely related resource to those now
within the boundary of the park. Since the Homestead is currently owned
by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and operated as a house museum by
the Society of Colonial Dames of America, we do not see a need for
management of the resource by the National Park Service.

Although there is support at the county and local levels for inclusion
of the Quincy Homestead into the National Park System as part of Adams
National Historical Park, we cannot support the action without a finding
that the resource meets congressionally required criteria for
designation.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony. I am prepared to answer any
questions from members of the Committee.