William Cullen Bryant Homestead
| William Cullen Bryant Homestead | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| National Register of Historic Places | |||
| National Historic Landmark | |||
 Concert of a string quartet on the veranda |
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| location | Cummington , Massachusetts , United States | ||
| Coordinates | 42 ° 28 '12 " N , 72 ° 56' 2.4" W | ||
| surface | 188.57 acres (0.8 km² ) | ||
| Built | 1783 | ||
| Architectural style | Victorian architecture | ||
| NRHP number | 66000136 | ||
| Data | |||
| The NRHP added | October 15, 1966 | ||
| Declared as an NHL | December 29, 1962 | ||
The William Cullen Bryant Homestead complex comprises the home of the American writer William Cullen Bryant, built in 1783, and the surrounding landscape with a total area of 195 acres (0.8 km² ) in the area of the city of Cummington in the state of Massachusetts in the United States . The site is listed as a National Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and is administered by The Trustees of Reservations .
history
In 1799, Peter Bryant and his family moved into the building constructed by his father-in-law in 1783. His son William Cullen spent his childhood and youth there and was influenced by both the natural beauty of the Berkshire Mountains and the conservative principles of western Massachusetts. He wrote the first version of his most famous work Thanatopsis at the age of 17 in this house.
The house was sold in 1835, but William Cullen bought it back in 1865. It served as his summer residence until his death in 1878. During this time he made many changes to the 27-room building, so that today's appearance can be traced back to this period of time. Since 1929 the house and the surrounding land, formerly used as farmland, have been owned by the Trustees of Reservations.
William Cullen Bryant always felt very attached to the town of Cummington, where he had spent his early years. He donated US $ 500 for the construction of a new school building and had a new, fully equipped library built at his own expense. To make it easier to access, he also financed a road that is now part of Massachusetts Route 112 . In 1981 the trustees were able to acquire additional land, which is why the area registered in the NRHP is smaller today.
Protected area
The reserve is mainly characterized by the picturesque landscape of the Westfield River Valley , which is also reflected in the works of the eponymous writer and inspired, among others, Frederick Law Olmsted and Charles Eliot , which ultimately led to the establishment of the Trustees of Reservations.
From 1865 to 1878, William Cullen converted the main building from a two-story farm to a three-story country house and expanded the barn to accommodate the apples and plums harvested in the on-site orchards . Today, in the house, which has been converted into a museum, you can see souvenirs from his travels to Europe and Asia as well as pieces of furniture and other objects from the colonial era.
The protected area, which has remained largely unchanged for more than 150 years, includes pastures, fields, sugar maple , which was harvested for the first time 200 years ago, and forest areas. A total of 2.5 mi (4 km ) trails available, among other things, to very old hemlock and up to 150 ft (45.7 m high) pines lead past. Access to the protected area is free, but the main building is only open irregularly. The trustees also offer guided tours.
See also
- List of protected areas of the Trustees of Reservations
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts
Individual evidence
- ↑ Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State: Massachusetts. National Park Service , accessed August 10, 2019.
- ↑ a b Polly M. Rettig, J. Walter Coleman: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM. ( PDF ; 315 kB) National Park Service , accessed on October 18, 2013 (English).
- ^ Property History. The Trustees of Reservations , accessed October 18, 2013 .
- ↑ About William Cullen Bryant Homestead. The Trustees of Reservations , accessed October 18, 2013 .