Whitaker-Clary House, Federal architecture house in North New Salem, Massachusetts.
The Whitaker-Clary House is a two-story wooden structure built in Federal style, featuring a gabled roof, two interior chimneys, and evenly spaced windows framing the central entrance. The building now operates as a museum where visitors can view artifacts and historical documents related to this region's past.
This house was built around 1816 by William Whitaker, a lawyer and militia officer who served during the War of 1812. It has endured and remains one of the few surviving structures from the early period of the region.
This residence belonged to a lawyer's family and shows how prosperous households lived in this region during the early 1800s. The rooms display the everyday objects and furnishings that people used, offering a window into domestic life of that era.
The house is located on the east side of Elm Street, north of Route 202, making it straightforward to find. Visitors should check opening times in advance, as hours may be limited during certain seasons.
In 1961, this house would normally have been demolished to make way for Quabbin Reservoir construction. Instead, the Massachusetts Metropolitan District Commission sold it to the historical society for just one dollar, preserving it from destruction.
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