George I. Briggs House
Encyclopedia
The George I. Briggs House, locally referred to as the Briggs-McDermott House, is located along Sandwich Road in Bourne
, Massachusetts
, United States
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1981, and currently serves as historic house museum operated by the Bourne Historical Society.
Originally built around 1802 by Josephus Keene, the house was significantly expanded and renovated in the Greek Revival
style
in the 1830s by Briggs, who married Keene's granddaughter Thirza. He was later instrumental in the creation of the town of Bourne from Sandwich
in 1884, serving as one of the new town's selectmen
. Later he would serve on the school and library commissions, and chairman of the Barnstable County
Commission.
He was a friend of U.S. President Grover Cleveland
, who sometimes vacationed in the area . The shop of a local blacksmith
who shod
Cleveland's horses has been moved to the house property as well. The interior of the house has an 1890 ceiling mural
painted by local artist Charles Raleigh.
After his death, it passed to Mercy Briggs McDermott and her husband William. They later sold it to the school district. In the 1970s the town worked to restore it, and in 1998 moved the blacksmith shop to the grounds.
Bourne, Massachusetts
Bourne is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,721 at the 2000 census.For geographic and demographic information on specific parts of the town of Bourne, please see the articles on Bourne , Buzzards Bay, Monument Beach, Pocasset, Sagamore, and Sagamore...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1981, and currently serves as historic house museum operated by the Bourne Historical Society.
Originally built around 1802 by Josephus Keene, the house was significantly expanded and renovated in the Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
style
Architectural style
Architectural styles classify architecture in terms of the use of form, techniques, materials, time period, region and other stylistic influences. It overlaps with, and emerges from the study of the evolution and history of architecture...
in the 1830s by Briggs, who married Keene's granddaughter Thirza. He was later instrumental in the creation of the town of Bourne from Sandwich
Sandwich, Massachusetts
Sandwich is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located right next to the Dexter Grist Mill, in the historic district of town....
in 1884, serving as one of the new town's selectmen
Board of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
. Later he would serve on the school and library commissions, and chairman of the Barnstable County
Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Barnstable County is a county located in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, consisting of Cape Cod and associated islands. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,902...
Commission.
He was a friend of U.S. President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
, who sometimes vacationed in the area . The shop of a local blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
who shod
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
Cleveland's horses has been moved to the house property as well. The interior of the house has an 1890 ceiling mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
painted by local artist Charles Raleigh.
After his death, it passed to Mercy Briggs McDermott and her husband William. They later sold it to the school district. In the 1970s the town worked to restore it, and in 1998 moved the blacksmith shop to the grounds.