Chandler-Bigsby-Abbot House, Colonial residence in Andover, Massachusetts
The Chandler-Bigsby-Abbot House is a colonial residence in Andover, Massachusetts, that retains original features such as summer beams, gunstock posts, plank sheathing, wide floorboards, and a narrow staircase. The building follows a simple four-room form with an extension added later to the main structure.
The house was built around 1673 by Captain Thomas Chandler, a blacksmith and original proprietor of Andover, on his farmland. In the 18th century, the building was expanded and received new roof elements that changed its overall form.
The house shows how early settlers lived through its four-room layout, which still reflects the way families organized their daily activities. The arrangement of the rooms and their sizes reveal how people used space for work and family life.
The house is located in Andover and is accessible through records maintained by the Massachusetts Historical Commission, which provides detailed information in their MACRIS database system. Visitors can contact the local historical society to learn more about the property and its history.
The building features gunstock posts, a construction technique using round logs with flattened sides that resemble firearm stocks. This handcrafted building method was typical of early colonial structures and shows how craftspeople used available materials creatively.
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