Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Adams Birthplace

Built in 1650 and modified in 1720, the John Adams birthplace was renovated over a six year period in the 1980s.

The most interesting room in the house is Adams' old law office, in which he, John Bowdoin, and Samuel Adams drafted the Massachusetts State Constitution which is still in use today and greatly influenced the development of the United States Constitution.

Its clapboards remain unpainted as research by the National Park Service indicates that the house was unpainted when John and Abigail last lived in it.

6 comments:

Janet said...

Well, I'll be! Quite an interesting photo and post. I am a history buff anyhow.

Anonymous said...

Interesting photo. The unpainted clapboards is something my grandfather believed was best and when I was in Japan in the early 1950s, all of the houses were weathered and none were painted. They and the temples were ancient but still in good shape.

Anonymous said...

wow! amazing! it looks so rustic and all, and to think these "matters of great import" took place here...


these black and whites of the last few posts are so wonderfully evocative--I really like them

Michelle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michelle said...

Beautiful photos!!

I believe that the unfinished home, Birthplace of John Adams, remained occupied by John's mother after his marriage. The painted house was John and Abigail's first home thus becoming the birthplace of John Quincy Adams. John's law office would have been in this home as well and the state constitution written here.
Please visit
www.nps.gov/adam. There is a photo of both homes with an explanation of both. I would not want to give incorrect info so please double check me.

wild red berry said...

Just came across your great blog! I lived in Quincy from 1979-1983 while doing a grad degree at Northeastern Univ. We lived in a very small house on Payne St. just off of Franklin. The day we moved in I had noticed the 2 little houses about a block away on Franklin that seemed different or special for some reason. It turned out they were the birth places of John and John Quincy Adams. They were fascinating 30 years ago and I really enjoyed finding your photos of them today! Thanks!

Summer Attraction

This tiger swallowtail butterfly was a delight to see pollinating the phlox bed along my driveway.