Barnes-Hill House, Federal architecture house from 1790 in Spencer, United States.
The Barnes-Hill House is a Federal architecture residence from 1790 in Spencer featuring a timber frame structure with clapboard siding, a stone foundation, and a central chimney. The multi-story building includes several wings with a two-story extension on the left side and a one-and-a-half-story section on the right, standing on six acres of property.
David Barnes built this residence in 1790, establishing what would become a notable local landmark. The property changed hands in 1828 when Sarah Barnes sold it to Willington Hill, whose descendants maintained it for over a century.
The building displays a traditional center-chimney layout that contrasts with the center-hall designs common in Massachusetts Federal homes. This choice reflects local building preferences and how residents organized their daily lives around the hearth.
The property sits on a spacious rural lot along North Brookfield Road, making it easy to view the exterior and surrounding grounds. Visitors should allow time to walk around and observe the different sections and landscape features without feeling rushed.
A hidden smoke chamber was discovered inside the main stairwell during restoration work, revealing how early residents preserved food. This find offers rare insight into everyday food storage practices from that era.
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