Mower County transcript., 1869-12-23
Old New ENGLAND Homes.

At the last meeting of the New England
Historic Genealogical Society in Boston.
Mr. Thos: G. Amory read q paper on '.Oul
Old New England Homes" He also exhib.
tied part of window, taken from an old
house in Ipswich, made of diamond panef
| of glass, three or four inches broad, set in
lead, brought in coils from abroad.
ConsiderinGa there were then no saw.
mills, he said the houses were remark.
ably we'll constructed. But few of th(
carpenters tools have been preserved.
It is hoped that We may soon have q
Hotel de Clugney, to transmit the modes
and appliances of work. Houses of this
period, particularly after Phillips war,
when of wood, had their second floors pro.
ject foot or two for warmth and to keep
wet from the lower door, or that if molest.
ed, the occupants might, through openings
for that purpose, fire their guns or pour
hot water upon their assailants. On some
farms wero garrisoned houses, sometimes
erected at the public charge The house
in Newbury, built by Benjamin. Pierce, an.
cestor Of the ex-President, still remains as
specimen of q garrisoned mansion.
"Of the better class of garrison houses ia
Governor Cradock's, at Medford, built in
1884. It has been but little altered. Mr..
kAuO1y baslN t2A1At IL tUIb WuS LOU tu0 OAooSt
building in the country, certainly it was the
oldest that retained its original shape and
arrangements. It has stone foundations,
beams, rafters and boards of oak. Being
remote from the centre of trade and i'm
provements, there have been no induce
ments to modernize and spoil il. 1t stands
on slight elevation about mile east Of
Ten Hills, across the river. The prospect
from its roof is attractive. In front is the
Mystic, down whose stream have glided in
virgin pride and beauty many q noble bark
since the Blessing Of the Bay" first float
ed uponits water. In the midst of q coun-
try of noble lakes. hills. meadows and
primeval forests, near the sea, the place
was happily selected. The house is forty
four feet in front by thirty-two # in depth.
The bricks in its walls were made on the
ground. On either side of the front door,
which opens to the south are two windows
on each floor, besides circular portfolios at
each extremity Of about foot in diameter.
Probably the windows on the lower floor
were originally arched. The roof is of
double pitch, very steep, each side Of the
ridge of the roof pole about six feet being
nearly fiat. 1t originally had an elegant
staircase, land the wainscot was hung with
arras. The freplaces, two in the west and
two in the east wall, are large, the timber
and boards of oak. Cupboards are in the
brick.work, for the deposit Of valuable at
ticles. Some family Of wealth should pur-
chase and preserve it for the general coed.
Stanley place. one of the most ancient
structures of English Chester, is kept in
its original state by society of antiquaries.
Mr.. Amory describes q residence, Of q
friend of his where he passed some weeks
not many years since in Herfordshire, as
strongly resembling the Cradock house.
.Mr. Amory described quite minutely
many other houses-the Bishop house, at
Danvers, built by Townsend Bishop; the
Sheldon house; the Coffin house, at New.
bury, lately occupied by the we'll known
historian Of the town, Joshua Coffin, and
built by his ancestor, Tristan Coffin, which
has been occupied by seven generations of
that prolific family. Its large keeping
receiving yule logs Of fabulous dimensions
tributed, give pleasing variety to the ex-
terror.
Under its roof have been born host of
esti,nable citizens, who have done good
service to the public in their day and gen.
Grafton in the learned professions, on the
sea and in the army, and Of whom can be
| numbered graduates Of Harvard and other
| colleges almost by the score. The Han
cock, Franklin, Pickering, Leonard, Prov
ince, Phipps, Brinley Shirley houses were
mentioned, and some of them particularly
described. Upwards of forty mansions
were included in Mr.. Amory's papers, some
ton or twelve of them he particularly de.
scribed."