John Bottume House, Renaissance Revival residence in Stoneham, Massachusetts.
The John Bottume House is a T-shaped granite building rising two and a half stories with arched windows at the gable ends and decorative brackets supporting the roofline. It overlooks the waters of Spot Pond and sits within the Middlesex Fells Reservation.
Built around 1849 by a Boston businessman as a summer residence, this house is the only survivor of similar structures that once lined Spot Pond. Over time it transitioned from private home to public visitor facility.
The house reflects how wealthy Boston merchants expressed their taste through architecture and landscape during the 1800s. The stone construction and surrounding grounds show the lifestyle choices of this affluent community.
The building functions as a visitor center within the Middlesex Fells Reservation and welcomes guests during operational hours. Access is straightforward from the surrounding trails, and the site offers views of the pond and forest grounds.
The property still retains original landscape features including granite entrance posts and a stone wall separating it from Woodland Road. These details reveal the intentional design choices of the original estate.
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