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Parson Capen House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Parson Capen House
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Location	Topsfield, Massachusetts
Coordinates	42°38′36″N 70°56′57″W / 42.64333°N 70.94917°W / 42.64333; -70.94917
Area	1.1 acres (4,500 m)
Built	1694
Architectural style	Postmedieval English
Part of	Topsfield Town Common District (ID03001488)
NRHP reference No.	66000139
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHL	October 9, 1960
Designated CP	June 7, 1976

The Parson Capen House is an historic house in Topsfield, Massachusetts, built in 1683. It has drawn attention as an example of early colonial architecture and because of its well-preserved condition by comparison with other contemporaneous houses.

History

The Capen house was built on a 12-acre (49,000 m) lot in 1683 as the parsonage for the local Congregational Church. It is located at what is now 1 Howlett Street, next to the Topsfield Common. It was first owned by the Reverend Joseph Capen, who had moved to Topsfield from Dorchester. His wife had seen the previous parsonage and was disappointed by its condition. The family lived there for over forty years. At the time that it was built, it was considered to be the best house in the town.

The house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960. It is one of the best preserved homes from its period in New England. The Topsfield Historical Society currently operates it as a historic house museum.

Architecture

The Capen house was built with English style architecture, and it bears a strong resemblance to many houses in England.

The house features overhangs called jetties at the front and sides, but not the rear, of the building. Although many have assumed that the overhangs were intended as protection from Native Americans, they were primarily decorative and also served to shield people from rain. The house has a small entrance hallway leading to the staircase. It contains four rooms, each of which contains a fireplace. It has exposed low ceilings with wooden beams.

Hanging wood pendills, ornaments that were carved by the carpenter who built the house, were also used as decoration.

See also

• List of historic houses in Massachusetts
• List of the oldest buildings in Massachusetts
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, Massachusetts
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts

References

1. ^ Patricia Heintzelman and Charles Snell (1975) National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Parson Capen House, National Park Service and Accompanying seven photos, exterior and interior, from 1967 and 1975
2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
3. ^ "Parson Capen House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 6, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
4. ^ Griffeth 2008, p. 146
5. ^ "The First Functional Homes". LIFE. April 18, 1955. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
6. Griffeth 2008, p. 144
7. ^ Griffeth 2008, p. 145
8. "Parson Capen House". Topsfield Historical Society. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
9. ^ Griffeth 2008, p. 147

Bibliography

• Griffeth, Bill (2008). By Faith Alone: One Family's Epic Journey Through 400 Years of American Protestantism. Random House. ISBN 978-0-307-33729-0.

External links

• Topsfield Historical Society
• National Park Service

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• Historic district contributing properties in Massachusetts
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• Houses in Topsfield, Massachusetts
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