Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-02
An HISTORIC HOME.
Ths Old Quincy House ut Quincy, lIass,
Threatened with Destruction.


The announcement that the ancient
Quincy house, located in the city Of
Quincy, is likely TO be soon torn down,
in order TO make way for modern
dwelling at or near its site, will arouse
in many New Englanders something
more than regret. 1t seems like piece
of vandalism which the sons of the Pur-
itan forefathers should not consider for
o moment. The Quincy house was
built in 1886, with extensive improve
ments, that made it in structure what
it is to-day, added in 1856. The testi-
mony of this statement is found in Judge
Sewall's diary, and it is corroborated
by President Quincy and by his son,
the late Edmund Quincy Of Dedham.
Another homestead equally old is the
ancient Fairbanks farm house in Ded-
ham. There are many other old homes
scattered along the North and South
shores, which have an interesting his
tory and are carefully preserved in their
original style. These earliest New
England homes have a character that
is distinctive and unique. Most of them
are built in the style of the English
farmhouse of the time of Milton, with
a lean-to roof; but occasionally house
of this kind is built after the original
manor houses of England of two aud q
half centuries ago. One Of these the
celebrated Knox mansion, located at
Thomaston, Me-, and probably the
finest old house of the kind in New
England in its day, was ruthlessly torn
down by the inhabitants of that town
because it interfered with the lumber
room of shipyard! 1t looks as if in
Quincy similar outrage might be en-
acted in allowing the most interesting
and historical structure in that city with
the exception the Adams house, to be de-
stroyed, for no other reason than that
the property can be made to realize
more none if it is cut up into house
lots. Now that the Quincys and
Adamses have practically ceased to give
q distinctive character to the town of
Quincy, anything within its limits, not
excepting even the dead cedar tree that
stands on Merrymount and looks now
as it did when the first part of the
Quincy house was built, that carrys US
back to the olden time. is of priceless
value; and it is for this reason that this
ancient home of q New England gen.
tleman should be faithfully and care
fully preserved.
1t has only had five occupants as
families since it was erected. The orig
i inal estate on the death of Mr.. Quincy,
was divided, and the elder branch took
the house and occupied it till after the
Revolution. 1t was then sold to Mr..
Alleyne, of Barbados, who transferred
it to Mr.. Black, an Irish gentleman.
The next owner was Mr. Daniel Green
leaf. the owner of the old feather store
in Dock Square. Then Mr.. Peter But
Ter leased the property, and has just
given it up after rental of thirtv-tive
years. To-day, like the Old South
Meeting House in this city, it has passed
beyond the time when it would be
chosen, instead of a modern house, as a
place of residence. 1t belongs to the
city of Quincy to save it from demoli-
tion and to preserve it itreligiously as one
of the famous homes of the forefathers.
1t is genuine Object lesson in Puritan
history.
Its low-studded rooms, its exposed
cross-beams, its ancient staircases, It's
secret chamber, its quaint hiding places,
give it character more uique than that
of the Pepperell mansion at Kittery or
the Wentworth mansion at Newcastle.
Close beside it is to be the future park
of Quincy, and consistent with the use
of such park is the reservation af this
Puritan home for mansion of New
England antiquities, or for any other
purpose that will secure its preserva-
tion. 1t is believed that it is not toe
late to save this house from the vandal.
ism that awaits it.
What would we not give if the house
where Governor Bradford lived at Ply
mouth had been pre- served as he left it ?
Who would not be glad if the home OF
Governor Winthrop had been pre-
served? How many historical points
are to be found through New England
where the preservation of famous OF
characteristic building would be prized
beyond measure to-day if it had beer
protected from decay? Our citizens
rose to the situation when the destruc-
tion of the Old South Meeting House
was threatened, and the people saved
it. It rests with the people of Quincy
whether they shall appropriate few
thousand dollars for the preservation
of their most valuable and interesting
historical home, or shall allow to be
lost through negligence what their chill
dren will perpetually blame them fo1
not having preserved.
1t is more than local question. All
New England has an interest in the
preservation of such q unique and rep
resentative home. People from the
West and South yearly make pilgrim
ages to the Atlantic coast to see wha
relics are left that belong to the earli
est settlement of the country, and it i:
by snch fine specimens of the ancien
! dwelling house as the Quincy mansion
affords that the national traditions are
verified with the seeing eye. We can
not afford 10 lose these relics of al
early day. Boston would be reproache(
by the whole country if it should con
sent to the destruction of old Chris
Church and the Old South Meetins
House, and Quincy vii be charged
with vandalism if it permits the ole
Quincy mansion to be destroyed.
4 Boston Herald.
| The Highest Praise for Stanley Yet
, Mr.. H. NJ. Stauley's landlady in Lon
| 1oy, hos boa,, x,in J;ootaJ XWba-, q WOO