The Old House
May 1, 2012
Text by Debbie Hagan   Photography by Courtesy of the National Park Service, Adams National Historical Park
Itâs hard to imagine so much history packed into a house Abigail Adams once called âa wrenâs nest.â Yet the Old House served not only as home to John and Abigail Adams, but to their son, John Quincy Adams, and his wife as well as to two more generations. In fact, the house and its contents remained in the family until it became a museum and part of the National Park Service in 1946.
âThis makes us so unique,â says Kelly Cobble, curator of the fourteen-acre Adams Historical Park. âEverything in the house belonged to the family.â That includes 6,000 objects on exhibit, as well as 14,000 volumes of books.
The original home dates back to 1731, built by Major Leonard Vassell, a wealthy Jamaican sugar grower. The Paneled Room, with walls made of Santo Domingo mahogany, reflect this earlier period. Abigail thought them too dark and whitewashed them. Years later a grandson restored them.
Abigail added the Long Room to the ânestâ in 1800, doubling the homeâs size. Cobble describes this room as most intact, with wallpaper dating from around 1900 and some of the Adamses own furnishings reflecting the Adamsesâ tastes. John acquired the Louis XV settee and a dozen chairs during his diplomatic service in Holland and France, and he and Abigail bought the fire screens in England, where they lived for a time.
The second major addition to the house was Johnâs study on the second floorâa substantial upgrade from the one heâd set up in a farm outbuilding. Here, he kept his books, a collection of Chinese export porcelain and the 1775 French secretary upon which he signed, in 1783, the Peace Treaty of Paris. The room also contains rare, matching terrestrial and celestial globes, purchased by John Quincy Adams, showing the most up-to-date discoveries as of 1799.
With Abigailâs additions, the ânestâ grew into what she called âThe Mansion.â Later generations referred to it as the âOld House.â To John Adams, however, the bucolic farm represented tranquility. Â He looked around at the orchards and gardens and called them âpeace fields.â
Editorâs Note: Adams National Historical Park is open daily through Nov. 10, 9 a.m.â5 p.m. 135 Adams St., Quincy, Mass., Â (617) 773-1177, Âwww.nps.gov/adam/.
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