John B. Gough House, Historic house in Boylston, Massachusetts, United States.
The John B. Gough House is a two-story residence built in the Italianate style with three bays on each side, a flat roof, and a central square tower. The property contains twenty rooms and preserves original architectural features including wide eaves and a front porch.
The residence was built in 1848 for temperance lecturer John B. Gough, who delivered thousands of speeches advocating alcohol abstinence across multiple countries. His work made the property a significant center of the temperance movement in 19th-century America.
The house served as a gathering place where social reformers, clergy, artists, and politicians met to advance the temperance cause in 19th-century Massachusetts. Visitors can see the rooms where these conversations and meetings took place.
The house is located in Boylston on Main Street and is easy to navigate with its straightforward layout from the 1800s. The well-preserved original features make it simple to walk through and understand how the property was organized.
The property began as a working farm with multiple outbuildings and later housed the Shepherd Knapp School in the 20th century. This dual purpose reveals how the building adapted and served the community through different eras.
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