The Old House at Peacefield in Quincy, MA
Peacefield, also known as the Old House, is a historic residence in Quincy, Massachusetts, that was home to the Adams family for four generations from 1788 to 1927. It was the residence of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, First Ladies Abigail and Louisa Catherine Adams, Civil War Minister to Great Britain Charles Francis Adams, and literary historians Henry and Brooks Adams. The property, originally built in 1731, contains a vast collection of original artifacts that help interpret the Adams family’s legacy of service to the nation.
Adjacent to the house is the Stone Library, built in 1873 by Charles Francis Adams at the request of John Quincy Adams. This Gothic Revival structure contains over 12,000 books belonging to the Adams family, including notable works such as the Mendi Bible and an early edition of the Book of Mormon gifted by Joseph Smith.
The property originally belonged to Leonard Vassall, a wealthy plantation owner, and passed through various hands before being purchased by John Adams in 1787 while he was in England. The Adams family expanded and modified the house, with significant contributions by Abigail Adams and later generations, transforming it into a Georgian-style residence with a gambrel roof.
Brooks Adams, the youngest son of Charles Francis Adams, was the last family member to live at Peacefield. Upon his death in 1927, the house became a museum managed by the Adams Memorial Society until it was incorporated into the National Park Service in 1946. The park later acquired additional sites, including the John Adams and John Quincy Adams birthplaces, forming the Adams National Historical Park.
Peacefield is intertwined with the political and intellectual history of the American nation. The property includes an orchard of heirloom apples and formal 18th-century flower gardens. The Stone Library, constructed from Quincy granite, is a significant feature, reflecting the city’s historical association with granite quarries.
In November 1996, a robbery at the library resulted in the theft of several valuable artifacts, including the Mendi Bible. These items were later recovered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Today, Peacefield and its surrounding sites are preserved as part of the Adams National Historical Park, offering insights into the lives and contributions of the Adams family.
Matt Lambros MA Quincy May 29, 2024 Architecture History Places to Visit
May 29, 2024
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