James Blake House
Encyclopedia
The James Blake House is the oldest house in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is in Edward Everett Square
. This neighborhood of Dorchester is a few blocks from the Dorchester Historical Society. The house is located just a block from Massachusetts Avenue
. Tours are given on the third Sunday of the month.
The immediate area, as well as the house, have been undergoing an extensive renovation and preservation. The house has been completely re-shingled and the grounds improved.
Edward Everett Square
Edward Everett Square, in Dorchester, Boston, is an intersection of Columbia Road, Massachusetts Avenue, East Cottage Street and Boston Street, and named after a former Governor of Massachusetts, Edward Everett. In 1995 efforts were undertaken by the local community to redevelop the square, with...
. This neighborhood of Dorchester is a few blocks from the Dorchester Historical Society. The house is located just a block from Massachusetts Avenue
Massachusetts Avenue (Boston)
Massachusetts Avenue, known to locals as Mass Ave, is a major thoroughfare in Boston, Massachusetts, and several cities and towns northwest of Boston...
. Tours are given on the third Sunday of the month.
History
The house was built around 1661 by James Blake, an English immigrant. Blake used a Western English style of medieval architecture in constructing the house. The house left the Blake family in 1825 when it was acquired by the Williams family. In 1891 the City of Boston acquired the house. In 1896 the Dorchester Historical Society acquired the property from the City and moved the house less than 500 feet from its original location of Massachusetts Avenue.The immediate area, as well as the house, have been undergoing an extensive renovation and preservation. The house has been completely re-shingled and the grounds improved.