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May 2004 The oldest and most historic house on this year's tour is the homestead of Rev. Daniel Shute, situated on Glad Tidings Plain. The house was built in 1745 by Zacheus Blossom, who rented the property to Rev. Shute until the minister bought it in 1752 shortly before his marriage.
Minister of what is now the Second Parish Church from 1746 until 1799, Rev. Shute was an ardent supporter of the American Revolutionary cause. His colleague and friend, Rev. Ebenezer Gay of the
First Parish Meeting House, was an equally ardent supporter of the Loyalist cause. To their credit, both ministers avoided incendiary sermons on this subject and were helpful in diffusing the animosity
on both sides that characterized many other towns. After the colonies gained their independence, Shute helped write the Constitution of Massachusetts
and later was part of the convention that adopted the United States Constitution tion of Massachusetts and later was part of the convention that adopted the United States Constitution. He,
with Rev. Gay and General Benjamin Lincoln, persuaded Madam Sarah Derby to donate funds for the future Derby Academy. As a friend of the John Hancock family in Boston, he tutored their only son,
John George Washington Hancock, at his Hingham home. The exterior of this Georgian-style colonial home boasts seven windows across the Main Street
façade instead of the usual five. Although a previous owner changed much of the original interior, the huge front door, the paneling in corner fireplaces and old wide floor boards in the parlor remain. The
dining room was probably the former kitchen as there is a beehive oven there. The huge kitchen area has been extended by the new owners to include the old well room, new
sunroom, pantry and back entry. The ancient well is still there and working, with a wooden bucket hooked to a rope and the original stone weight. The old beams and brick walls in the kitchen have
been uncovered, and the fireplace restored. The spacious grounds now include a large brick patio with grill and pizza oven, plus a boccie court, all ideal for outdoor entertaining. The 1755 John Fearing House
is a perfect example of a New England colonial home. The five bay symmetrical façade, painted tan, has a massive central chimney, six over six windows and a central
front door with a heavy but simple white frame. It sits low to the ground with no foundation plantings to obscure its classic lines.
Inside this prim exterior are colorful surprises. Every room is painted in the vibrant colors of the colonial period. The parlor has deep blue walls, the dining room is a dark rose color and the living
room, formed from the old kitchen and two other rooms, has pea green walls. The present kitchen is a large, comfortable room with its share of warm colors and colonial artifacts.
The owners bought the property in 1952 and proceeded to painstakingly restore it. The original steep front stairs, gunstock posts, back staircase (now enclosed in the back wall of the living room) and
seven fireplaces have been preserved. Throughout the entire house, the furnishings represent an extraordinary effort over the years by the
owners to recreate the era in which the house was built. Never before open to the public, this house will enchant visitors with its displays of the owners' various collections and authentic interiors. To
view this house is a delightful step back in time. Visitors will be totally charmed by the 1799 Cape Cod home of John Leavitt. The owners have
directed in person all the restoration work and have spent over four years furnishing the interior. The wife has acted as her own designer and decorator, and the effect is one of naturalness, harmony,
comfort and livability. There are attractive nooks and thoughtful details everywhere. To the left of the entrance is the library, where the shelves are lined with books and personal
mementos. To the right is the dining room, tastefully done and restrained good taste. Ahead is the keeping room where the large fireplace reminds one that this was the original kitchen. Off to the left
are a small borning room and lavatory. The bright and cheerful kitchen area has many built-ins, including a window seat with attractive cushions. Lace window panels soften and filter the sunlight.
The woodwork was made to resemble the kitchen built here in 1850. On the counter are old platters and teakettles, dried flowers and baskets. The pantry cupboards and shelves hold more treasures.
There is a large round table in front of the fireplace that invites conversation among old friends. The last room downstairs is the sunroom, a quiet place to relax with plants, that was added by the owners.
Upstairs, which is also open to the public, there is an office with a walkway to the garage top that serves as a balcony. There are a laundry room and two guest bedrooms and bath. The master
bedroom suite has a walk-in closet leading to a sumptuous bath. Visitors leaving the house will also admire the lovely small garden bordering the street. The 1803 David Whiton House
was substantially altered in 1930 by Mrs. Augusta Brewer, who had the red brick-end Federal structure turned 90 degrees to the south to make room for an elegant
addition by the noted Hingham architect Charles Everett. His trademark cupola, curved driveway, series of first floor arches, beautiful fanlight over the entry and octagonal foyer are all examples of his
interpretation of the Georgian Revival style popular at the time. The present owners have lived here only two years, but already have added a family room, mud room,
lavatory and tiny office space to the rear, which overlooks a lovely private garden. The old laundry has been connected to this part of the house, and the old 1930s kitchen has been completely redone.
The owners even found space for a powder room near the foyer and a wine pantry off the dining room. This house is an architectural gem that effortlessly incorporates the Federal period, the additions of
Charles Everett and modern improvements into a building that has kept all the charms of the past and actually enhanced them. The lovely Anthony Gardner Home
was built in South Hingham in 1822. The present owner has lived here nine years. While the barn was in need of repair, the house did not need major restoration
work, thanks to the efforts of the previous owners. The 10 rooms on the tour provide a wonderful setting for the owner's eclectic mix of colonial, Victorian and turn-of-the-century furnishings and collectibles.
To the left of the front hall with its winding staircase is the living room with paneled mantel. This room belonged to an older house in Dorchester that was partially destroyed by a hurricane. The owner had
the room brought down to this house, which she also owned. One theory is that the room was actually "floated" down on a boat, as was done with several other Hingham homes that came from
other locations. To the right of the front hall is the dining room where the stenciling on the walls has been carefully reproduced from the original designs.
The kitchen has an old-fashioned look that reminds one of a Currier and Ives print of preparations for Thanksgiving. There is an old black "Quaker Gem" wood stove, plus two wooden Hingham buckets,
wide floor boards, a hanging oil lamp, a cozy breakfast table with ladder-back chairs, a child's youth chair and a hutch displaying 19th-century china. Beyond is the office that overlooks the spacious
backyard and barn, where visitors may peer in to see the hay loft, tack room and root cellar. Up the winding back stair are five bedrooms, all open to the public. Here, as well as downstairs, the
items in each room will create a nostalgia for the past. One room has a brass bed, while the master bedroom has an old cradle with several beautiful dolls asleep in it.
Anyone who has ever taken the short cut through Kickapoo from the 3A rotary to Water Street will be amazed at the transformation of the Kelliher House. The house was built in the
1860s in what was still a working-class district. This area had direct access to the ocean via the tidal salt marsh and Mill Pond, and many fishermen and clammers chose to live there. The Kelliher family
lived here from 1870 to 2002. In later years the house had been badly neglected and allowed to deteriorate. The white paint was peeling and the stone foundations were sagging. It seemed just a
matter of time before the building was demolished. The present owner, who has restored many homes in Hingham, decided to rescue the house and
show what could be done to preserve an older building. Many challenges lay ahead. The interior had been completely stripped except for some doors, upstairs flooring, the stair banister and the
claw-foot bathtub. The back of the house had to be jacked up and the kitchen ell redone while keeping the footprint the same. The stone foundation collapsed and had to be rebuilt.
Today the small Greek Revival cottage with sparkling white paint is a success story. The interior has a small parlor in front and a large dining/kitchen area across the back with many windows that
overlook the back of the property and the Home Meadows beyond. In the new kitchen ell the builder has even found room for a small lavatory and butler's pantry. Upstairs there is a master bedroom,
enlarged with a new shed dormer, a spacious tiled bathroom and two other bedrooms. The walkout basement has two large rooms opening to the level backyard. The third room is the
furnace room, where the stone foundation shows the lean of the house before it was straightened. In the backyard, one can see the beautiful stone retaining wall built under the parking area and the kitchen entrance.
Facing toward Home Meadows, one can see a stake marking the original water line to the harbor. Beyond is the embankment for the railroad line. Before the Mill Pond was filled in, water flowed freely
into the salt marsh and the railroad ran on a trestle above the water. The house is carefully laid out and has a surprising amount of space. The builder has used many
recycled materials from older houses when restoring the interior, and employed the architectural details of a Greek Revival home on the exterior.
Also included on the tour are the Old Ordinary, Old Derby, Old Ship Meeting House, Hingham Cemetery and Hingham Common. There will be an exhibit at the Old Ordinary, "Tools of the Trade
from Hingham's Past," featuring antique tools from the Society's collection. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 on tour day. They are sold at Bowl & Board, Andrew Zona,
Noble's and Whitney Gordon in Hingham Square; the Public Library; Noble's in Lincoln Plaza and Queen Anne Plaza and The Glass House in South Hingham. Tickets on tour day will be
sold only at the Old Ordinary, 21 Lincoln Street, after 10 a.m. At that time tickets may also be exchanged for tour books. To order tickets by mail, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope
with your check payable to the Hingham Historical Society, P.O. Box 434, Hingham, MA 02043. Mark the envelope "House Tour. Just Some Ordinary News A regular column of news from the Old Ordinary House Committee New Items OO at Taste of Hingham. The OO Committee will have a table at the popular "Taste of Hingham"
event on Saturday, May 1, 2004 (May 8 raindate). Downtown North Street will be closed off for the event, scheduled to take place noon to 3 p.m. Sixteen local restaurants are participating, and a
fashion show will be held at Tosca's. Tickets for the House Tour will be on sale as well as selected Gift Shop items, including the new sterling silver bucket charm and the long-awaited Hingham flag. Stop by and say hello! Volunteers Needed. This is the time of year when the Old Ordinary wakes up and begins the search for volunteers. Friends of the OO may receive up to three telephone calls for the volunteer
needs. If you would like to be part of any of the events, please give us a call - we would love to have you - and no experience necessary! * Grade 5 School Tours
- volunteers needed to assist tour guides during the first two weeks of June, 9 a.m. to noon. This is a great way to learn the script of the house museum's guided tour. Call Penni Hughes, 781-749-0499, if you can help. * 80th Annual House Tour - Sunday, June 13, 1 to 7 p.m. Volunteers needed for two-hour shifts at the Old Ordinary. Ellen Harvey
, 781-749-1078, will be calling past volunteers but welcomes interested new volunteers to assist at the OO . * Old Ordinary Summer Volunteers
- the house museum opens on June 15 and is open Tuesday to Saturday, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., through September 11. Volunteers are needed each afternoon to assist the docent. Susan Boyd
, 781-749-8554, will call past volunteers but welcomes new people with an interest in helping. Lisa Hemphill
In Her Own Words . .
Whether it's pen and ink sketches of the houses on the House Tour for the homeowner gifts, custom painted chairs for the Old Ordinary front hall or decoratively painted powder rooms at Old Derby, Susan Zuger has donated her time and artistic skills to the Old Ordinary House Committee for the last five years. She's a professional artist with a portfolio showing she's as
comfortable with oil, water colors and charcoal as with metal sculpture and ceramics. The rest is in "Her Own Words."
When I was growing up, my Dad was in the Air Force so we lived in some interesting places. My favorite was London, with its museums and theaters where I spent my last three
years of high school. I've always loved art and can remember visiting museums as a small child with my parents. After graduation we returned to Virginia where I attended William and Mary College in Williamsburg,
majoring in English and fine arts. I married my college sweetheart, Peter, and we moved to Richmond. Even with a master's degree in library science and career, I still continued to take art classes.
Within two months of becoming pregnant with our first son, Peter was hired by the government of Abu Dhabi (part of the United Arab Emirates) to help the country with their investments and provide
investment training for local officials. I stayed in the U.S. until Albert was born and then joined Peter in an international community of British, Swiss, French and German families.
What an adventure! Even the culture for women is very different in the Middle East, I still drove a car and went about my duties as a mother in a small town. It was customary for local Middle Eastern
women from conservative families to wear black masks and veils showing their faces only to their husbands. It seldom rained, skies were always blue and temperatures soared to 120 degrees in the
summer. One day I even saw a camel wandering in a parking lot! We returned to the United States with our boys - Albert and younger brother James - after 5-1/2
years in the Middle East. Peter's fund management career took us to Grosse Pointe, MI and then to Kansas City. I was busy raising two boys during those years but still found time to study painting,
sculpting and even take a furniture making class. Peter was offered a terrific opportunity to work in Boston and so we moved to Hingham in September 1998. At that time, Albert started his freshman
year at the Pratt Institute of Art and now has his own metal fabrication studio in NYC. James started his freshman year at Hingham High School and now attends Clark University in Worcester with a
double major in psychology and history. Both boys have absorbed our love of art and history. Volunteering is a good way to get to know people so I was delighted when my neighbor, Ellen
Harvey, asked me to join the Old Ordinary House Committee. Peter and I also joined the Trustees of Reservations. Both organizations have given me an opportunity to contribute through my art. Each
spring I enjoy sketching the House Tour houses which are presented to the homeowners as gifts. Recently I decorated the Old Derby ladies room using a Federal period needlework theme to tie in
with the work required of young women at the original school. My good friend, Ellen Harvey, stenciled the Duxbury Scroll embroidery on the room's border while I used three different sampler motifs at the
end of the room. Hingham Harbor made the sailing theme a natural for the men's room. The rope border demonstrates the sailing motif and also ties in with the cordage industry in early Hingham.
For the Trustees of Reservations my contribution has been to design and paint a 40-foot hallway mural at the Bradley Estate in Canton. The mural is painted in the late 19th-century American
Impressionist style featuring late summer views of the Norris Reservation on the North River in Norwell. I spent many hours working on that project but it was especially satisfying when the
naturalists stopped by to make sure my plants and wildlife were accurate. One of my favorite murals painted on commission was a French garden landscape in a style
reminiscent of John Singer Sargent and early Monet. I incorporated details like a Hermes scarf on a garden bench given by the husband to his wife on their first anniversary to personalize the mural. My
children's portraits play up a child's sport or hobby to make the portrait unique for them. You might say I'm meticulous when I approach a project and plan the details but I think it makes all the
difference in the end and that matters most to me. Susan's a bundle of energy, whether it's gardening in her yard and greenhouse, volunteering
or painting professionally but she still has her eye on a future project. "Someday I'd like to paint new illustrations for Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses." With
Susan's talent, it is sure to be a best seller.
Penni Hugh |
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