3°4 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



September, 19 13 



dential line of Adamses, at 

 Quincy, Mass. 



Its location was charming, 

 being in a sheltered glen at 

 the entrance of a small val- 

 ley into a larger one, and 

 was thus protected from cold 

 winds and severe weather. 

 At that time a stream wound 

 in and out through the mea- 

 dows. This was of sufficient 

 size to afford power to run 

 the old mill which originally 

 stood on the estate and for 

 many years ground the neigh- 

 bors' grain. 



The latter end of the 

 eighteenth century saw a 

 transformation take place in 

 the little old weather-beaten 

 house that has stood as sen- 

 tinel guarding the family name so long 



some cases, ten thicknesses 

 being removed. One of 

 these thicknesses showed a 

 wonderfully fine landscape 

 paper, but this was too much 

 defaced to be used again. 



Under it all was wide 

 paneling of wood, that 

 needed only a slight restora- 

 tion. The crane and pot- 

 hook and hangers were found 

 to be intact, while many 

 pieces of ancestral pewter 

 and copper were polished 

 and placed on the wide, re- 

 ceding chimney. On the 

 chimney hooks or from the 

 timbers above, were hung old 

 wooden reels, toasting forks, 

 and candle molds. A fea- 

 ture of this kitchen was the 



The swimming-pool 



It was consider- old-fashioned brick oven, as well as many quaint inset cup- 

 ably enlarged, principally on the southern end, making it boards shown in unexpected nooks and corners, 

 rambling and in parts, detached. Still, the main portion This kitchen is now used as a den, the fireplace showing a 

 of the house remained practically unchanged, in rectangular wonderful collection of old pewter, many of the pieces being 

 form, with a small center-hall and large square rooms on so rare that they cannot be duplicated. Old furniture, much 

 either side. The interior showed the beauty of fine wains- of which has been picked up from the surrounding neighbor- 

 coting and paneling of wide boards, some of which were hood, is also prominent in this room, and especial mention 

 split from logs that were at least thirty inches in width. should be made of the five-slat rush-bottom rocking chair 



The natural beauties of the country surrounding this place and the settle of the same period. This room is perhaps 



were unusually varied. The broad stretches of fields and one of the most interesting in the house, for the reason that 



meadows spread away on either hand, while the encircling the Colonial setting has been so carefully preserved — the 



hills offered their protection, making a most appropriate hand-hewn rafters and beams having been left intact and all 



setting for the Adams homestead. The beauty and attrac- the other old furnishings kept, to give a quaint, cosy look 



tiveness of the estate caused its purchase in 1907, with about to the low studroom. 



fifty-five acres of good farming land attached. The house In order that this kitchen might be used as a den, a new 



was then restored to its present condition, at a cost of kitchen with all modern conveniences, new pantries, servants'-, 



$1,500.00. An addition was made to the interior by sup- dining- and sitting-rooms, have been added. Thus, while 



plementing many of the conveniences made necessary for exterior features of the old house have been preserved, the 



the comforts of life to-day. adding of the new part gives comfort and convenience to 



Great reverence was paid by the owner to the original the original dwelling, 



structure, particularly to the old kitchen with its large brick Through a Colonial porch one enters the hallway, where 



fireplace and chimney. Sagging plaster was removed, and the stairway, following the lines of many Colonial houses, 



underneath were found well preserved hand-hewn beams and is at one side. The wallpaper is wonderfully preserved and 



rafters. These were cleaned and left exposed. The walls, of quaint design. It was made across the water over a cen- 



which had been neglected, were stripped of wallpaper, in tury-ago, and creates an appropriate atmosphere as one en- 



The famous "whipping tree" 



The old mounting-block, 1652 



