Peter Tufts House
Encyclopedia
The Peter Tufts House is a Colonial America
n house
located at 350 Riverside Avenue, formerly known as Ship Street in Medford
, Massachusetts
. It is currently thought to have been built between 1677-1678. Some historians consider it to be the oldest all-brick
house in the United States
.
en toll bridge
in America (1632), however, Cradock only owned the land and never actually lived or even visited America. In 1677, Richard Russell of Charlestown sold the land with “one dwelling house and barn” to Mr. Peter Tufts [Sr.] of Charlestown, although a prior agreement may have been made with Tufts Sr. likely already settled on the land.
The house was probably built by Peter Tufts Sr. (1628–1702), who sold it to his son, Peter (Captain) Tufts Jr. (1648–1721) in 1680. It is the son for whom the house is named. In 1728, the eastern side was sold to Edward Oakes of Malden.
In 1887, General Samuel Lawrence
saved the house from demolition when he purchased it as a wedding
gift
for his niece
. The interior was remodeled at this time in the Colonial Revival style. Only the support beams and parts of the staircase were kept intact from the original period. Much of the exterior remains original except the front porch was added between 1889-1900.
In 1892, when the City of Medford was incorporated, an image of the house was placed within its city seal. The house was purchased for $9,700 by William Sumner Appleton
with donations. He offered it to the Medford Historical Society, however they claimed to be unfit to take care of it at that time. In 1930, ownership was transferred to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (now Historic New England
). in 1982, it was purchased by the Medford Historical Society which now maintains the property.
Charles Tufts
(1781–1876), a descendant of Peter Tufts Sr. would later donate land for the campus of Tufts University
.
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
n house
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
located at 350 Riverside Avenue, formerly known as Ship Street in Medford
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
, 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...
. It is currently thought to have been built between 1677-1678. Some historians consider it to be the oldest all-brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
house in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The house has been called the "fort" and the "garrison house" because of its thick walls and portholes. For many years it was believed that the house was built by Mathew Cradock, one of 35 founding members of the Massachusetts Bay Company who reputedly owned the first woodWood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
en toll bridge
Toll bridge
A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...
in America (1632), however, Cradock only owned the land and never actually lived or even visited America. In 1677, Richard Russell of Charlestown sold the land with “one dwelling house and barn” to Mr. Peter Tufts [Sr.] of Charlestown, although a prior agreement may have been made with Tufts Sr. likely already settled on the land.
The house was probably built by Peter Tufts Sr. (1628–1702), who sold it to his son, Peter (Captain) Tufts Jr. (1648–1721) in 1680. It is the son for whom the house is named. In 1728, the eastern side was sold to Edward Oakes of Malden.
In 1887, General Samuel Lawrence
Samuel Lawrence (revolutionary)
Samuel Lawrence was an American revolutionary from Groton, Massachusetts.Samuel Lawrence fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill under Henry Farwell who was killed there. Samuel served in the army for 3 and half years from 1775 to 1778, and rose within the U.S. Army to the rank of major. While in the...
saved the house from demolition when he purchased it as a wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
gift
Gift
A gift or a present is the transfer of something without the expectation of receiving something in return. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is meant to be free. In many human societies, the act of mutually exchanging money, goods, etc. may contribute to...
for his niece
Cousin chart
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
. The interior was remodeled at this time in the Colonial Revival style. Only the support beams and parts of the staircase were kept intact from the original period. Much of the exterior remains original except the front porch was added between 1889-1900.
In 1892, when the City of Medford was incorporated, an image of the house was placed within its city seal. The house was purchased for $9,700 by William Sumner Appleton
William Sumner Appleton
William Sumner Appleton, Jr. was Founder of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities in 1910. He was the chief force behind much of the preservation of historic homes in the New England area...
with donations. He offered it to the Medford Historical Society, however they claimed to be unfit to take care of it at that time. In 1930, ownership was transferred to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (now Historic New England
Historic New England
Historic New England, previously known as the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities , is a charitable, non-profit, historic preservation organization headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. It is focused on New England and is the oldest and largest regional preservation...
). in 1982, it was purchased by the Medford Historical Society which now maintains the property.
Charles Tufts
Charles Tufts
Charles Tufts was an American businessman. Born in Medford, Massachusetts to Daniel and Abigail Tufts, he was a descendant of Peter Tufts, an early colonist who came to America from England in 1638. He made his fortune through his brickmaking factory...
(1781–1876), a descendant of Peter Tufts Sr. would later donate land for the campus of Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
.
See also
- Peter and Oliver Tufts HousePeter and Oliver Tufts HousePeter and Oliver Tufts House is a historic house at 78 Sycamore Street in Somerville, Massachusetts.The earliest part of the house was built around 1714...
- List of the oldest buildings in Massachusetts