Explorations Behind Closed Doors Regional house museums of prominent alumni • by Nell Porter Brown nc./ ell porter brown e; N e; s ou s H f the american revolution, I hillip P s o aughter onnecticut D table; david carmack/table; david Edward Gorey House rink, C worth s Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts s ad
508-362-3909; www.edwardgoreyhouse.org anden B e and W rian V The artist and writer Edward Gorey From top left, counterclockwise: the s ’50 lived and worked in an 11-room cottage, Robert Frost Farm; interior of the ou
Jonathan Fisher House; the Governor rown; B surrounded by cats and books, for the last Jonathan Trumbull House; the kitchen at
ore than 100 houses in New 14 years of his life (see Vita, March-April, the Phillips House; and a scene at the orter B England, from the colonial era page 38). The museum, opened in 2002, dis- Edward Gorey House. Opposite: Gorey’s
facsimile on the front porch of the museum nell P t:
through the twentieth century, plays many of his personal items—boyhood f M have been turned into public drawings and diaries, typewriter, signature known rhyming alphabet book depicting museums. Inherently different from art in- raccoon coat, and the divan in the back room the demise of precisely 26 children: “A is for governor jonathan trumbull H rom top le e f
stitutions, these places reveal not only the that was ravaged by his clawing cats (he Amy who fell down the stairs”; “B is for Basil s work of their former inhabitants but the typically had six)—as well as rotating ex- assaulted by bears”; and so on, to “Y is for habits, predilections, and even failings that hibits of his work. Yorick whose head was knocked in”; and comprised their daily lives. Following is a On display through December 29 are the “Z is for Zillah who drank too much gin.” ounterclockwi selection of such museums with Harvard af- original pen and ink drawings, preliminary Printed reproductions fail to convey the del- C filiations. (Most are open only seasonally.) sketches, and texts for The Vinegar Works: icacy, depth, and richness of his meticulous Their caretakers are often highly devoted Three Volumes of Moral Instruction, published creativity. “Edward drew every illustration to, and scholars of, their subjects: they can 50 years ago. Deemed “whimsically maca- to scale, using these tiny lines,” notes Rick talk for hours, educating visitors as well as bre” by the museum, the trilogy contains The Jones, the director and curator, as he exam- eagerly enlivening the past. Gashlycrumb Tinies: or, After the Outing, a well- ines the intricate shadows around “Xerxes
12D July - August 2013 Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746 New England Regional Section devoured by mice” as he huddles in a corner. studio—with one view of an elegant South- collecting those things, along with African, Note also the peeling wallpaper and wood- ern magnolia tree—drawing multiple layers Tibetan, and Indian rings and amulets and grained floor of a once-grand room from the of lines the width of a hair, cross-hatching Coptic crosses (which he also wore). The series’s The West Wing, a mystery told through sections to create contrasting images that artist amassed hundreds of such objects that interior room scenes that feature a possible ultimately offer a three-dimensional quality. inspired him: he would arrange them into dead man in a suit in one and three shoes Gorey was a fan of routine. He often ate patterns and relationships while he worked. left on the floor of another. Gorey favored breakfast and lunch at Jack’s Outback. He Only once did Gorey leave the United Higgins India ink and a Gillott Tit Quill pen, saved ticket stubs from events through- States—in 1975 to see some remote islands and could sit for hours in his small upstairs out his life (including every performance off the coast of Scotland. “An interviewer through 27 sea- asked him at some point, ‘What’s your fa- sons of The New vorite journey?’” Jones reports, “and Edward York City Ballet answered, ‘Looking out the window.’” under George Balanchine). On Governor Jonathan the weekends, Trumbull House he regularly Lebanon, Connecticut shopped at yard 860-642-7558 sales. “He loved www.govtrumbullhousedar.org blue glass, beach Jonathan Trumbull, A.B. 1727, was a stones, door- trained minister and successful business- knobs, antique man who became the governor of the Con- potato mashers, necticut colony in 1769—and was the only and cheese grat- colonial governor to fully support the cause ers,” says Jones, of independence.
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Harvard Magazine 12E Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746 New England Regional Section
The “keeping room” at the Governor Jonathan Trumbull Chronologically, the Derry farm came House and a portrait of first: Frost lived there with his wife, Eli- Trumbull nor, and young children from 1900 to 1911. the cause of lib- Surrounded by pastoral scenes, he decid- erty, made him ed to devote himself to poetry, while also the perfect per- teaching English at the Pinkerton Academy son for the Revo- and working the 30-acre property and egg lution.” Three of farm, according to Bill Gleed, manager of the Trumbull’s sons, state-owned National Historic Site. “He was
who also played not a good farmer,” Gleed adds. “The other arm t f s
roles in the war farmers would hurry past his house because ro effort, went to they didn’t want to be asked any questions, Harvard, too: or for help.” Frost did attend to the details of Joseph, A.B. 1756; the natural world, however, becoming one he robert f
John, A.B. 1773, who was born at of the country’s most articulate and lyrical elow: T the house and later became the translators of the rhythms and metaphors famous patriot artist; and Jona- of rural life (and of his origins as a city boy table; B Known for his integrity, Trumbull wrote than Jr., A.B. 1759, LL.D. 1809. A statesman in nearby Lawrence, Massachusetts). Frost’s worth s s
a letter to British general Thomas Gage in his own right, he also served as governor first three collections—A Boy’s Will, North of ad shortly after the battles of Lexington and of Connecticut from 1797 to 1809. Boston, and Mountain Interval—“were all pret- e and W Concord, calling the events “the most un- Visitors to the house will learn more of ty much inspired by the farm,” according s provoked attack upon the lives and property New England’s colonial history—and mar- to Gleed. “Mending Wall,” for example, is ou of his Majesty’s subjects…as would disgrace vel over antiques, Colonial dish ware, and about his neighbor’s annual repairing of the even barbarians.” He preached restraint, textiles. Of note are rare handcrafted bed stone wall that bounded their respective “tempered wisdom,” and continued efforts rugs made by Sally Kate Clap, the niece of properties, in the belief that “good fences to “prevent this unhappy dispute from com- Nathan Hale, as well as an embroidered de- make good neighbors.” ing to extremities.” Yet he also made clear piction on silk, by Trumbull’s wife, Faith, of The 1880s farmstead was home to the that “as they apprehend themselves justi- their daughter Mary’s engagement to the “Frosty Acres” junkyard before the state fied by the principles of self-defense,” the boy next door, William Williams, a signer bought it in 1964 and largely funded the nc./governor jonathan trumbull H colonists “are most firmly resolved to defend of the Declaration of Independence. restoration, guided by Frost’s oldest daugh- their rights and privileges.” ter, Lesley Frost Ballantine. The wide plank Within days, Trumbull held what would The Robert Frost Farm floors downstairs, Gleed notes, “are painted be the first of more than a thousand meet- Derry, New Hampshire red because Rob liked the way they looked ings to organize support for the patriot 603-432-3091; www.robertfrostfarm.org with the Christmas tree.” cause, especially by delivering provisions. The Shaftsbury, Vermont, house is near f the american revolution, I s o He was instrumental in acquiring herds The Robert Frost Stone the poet’s gravesite in Bennington. There
of cattle that were driven down to the he composed many of the poems that ap- aughter troops at Valley Forge, says Cece Messier, House Museum peared in his Pulitzer Prize-winning New a member of the Connecticut Daughters Shaftsbury, Vermont Hampshire, Thompson says, and planted more of the American Revolution, which owns 802-447-6200; www.frostfriends.org than 1,000 red pine seedlings on the grounds. onnecticut D the museum. After the food arrived, “‘you New England has four properties with The site offers biographical notes, photos, could have made a knife out of every bone ties to the poet Robert Frost, class of 1901, discussion groups, and lectures, along with left on the field,’” Messier says, quoting his- Litt.D. ’37, that are open to the public. “All exhibits. This summer’s “Robert Frost: The T op right C (2) toric reports. of the Frost sites are important After the war, Trumbull was the only colo- because they offer different as- nial governor to then govern a newly formed pects of his life and work,” says state, a post he held until retiring in 1784. He Carole Thompson, director of had actually wanted to follow his passion The Robert Frost Stone House for ministry, says Messier, but abandoned Museum, where he lived from that career in the early 1730s because his fa- 1920 to 1929. “If you know the po- ther called him into the family’s mercantile ems, and you walk around any of trade. “He did the business to the best of the places, you feel like you are his ability because that was what God put walking in the poems.” before him to do,” she asserts. “That, and The kitchen at the Robert Frost his Harvard education and his dedication to Farm in Derry, New Hampshire
12F July - August 2013 Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746 New England Regional Section
The Robert Frost Stone House Museum in presidents and did not play a huge role in Shaftsbury, Vermont American history,” says site manager Julie literary friends during the last 24 years his Arrison, “they represent a lifestyle of the life. The property is owned by Middlebury mid-twentieth century.” Four generations College, where Frost was an integral mem- of the Phillips family, as well as other rela- ber of the Bread Loaf School of English and tives, attended Harvard: the family also es- a founder of the Bread Loaf Writers’ Con- tablished the The Stephen Phillips Memo- ference. “He is very much a poet of place,” rial Scholarship at Harvard in 1971 for New Thompson says, and recites from a 1936 England students who demonstrate “strong Bread Loaf class lecture Frost gave: “Liter- citizenship and character,” as well as aca- ature begins with geography, with love of demic excellence. The house makes a perfect home and parents. Out of the ground comes College scavenger hunt site: Who can spot poetry, out of poetry, philosophy, and out of the teddy bear with the crimson and white eum s Poetry of Trees” explores his extensive use philosophy, all that we are.” sweater? Find the Class of 1929 watch box, e mu s of tree imagery. and the Veritas wall plaque—and the col- Frost aficionados can also visitThe Phillips House lection of “President’s Reports of Harvard tone hou Frost Place, in Franconia, New Hampshire Salem, Massachusetts College.” The Phillipses were affluent, well- t s s (http://frostplace.org), primarily a nonprof- 978-744-0440; www.historicnewengland.org traveled—and clearly cared about educa- ro it educational center for writers and poets, Visitors to this art- and antique-packed, tion. Stephen Willard Phillips owned more obert f or walk the grounds at The Robert Frost Federal-style manse will learn about the life than 10,000 books, most of which he had he R
T Farm (also called the Homer Noble Farm), and times of trust-fund manager Stephen read, and seriously studied and collected in Ripton, Vermont (www.frostfriends.org/ Willard Phillips, A.B. 1895, LL.B. 1898, his Polynesian and Hawaiian art. Pieces are on ripton.html), and see the cabin where dur- wife, Anna, and their son, Stephen “Ste- display—note the hand-carved Fijian war ing the warmer months he wrote and hosted vie” Phillips ’29. Although “they were not club—along with Chinese and Japanese
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Harvard Magazine 12G Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746 Document1Document1 11/20/03 11/20/03 11:51 11:51 AM AM Page Page 1 1
New England Regional Section ASSISTEDASSISTEDLIVINGLIVINGRETIREMENTRETIREMENTCOMMUNITYCOMMUNITY Independent and Assisted Living Here’sSpecializedHere’s what what Memory people people Care are are Whatsayingsaying do Harvard about about us. alumni us. have in common? Cadbury Commons An Uncommon Senior Residence
Name:Name:MiltonMilton R. R. Occupation:Occupation:PostalPostal Supervisor, Supervisor, Retired Retired Hobbies:Hobbies:Reading,Reading, Walking, Walking, Exercising Exercising Lifestyle:Lifestyle:Independent,Independent, Active Active ChoiceChoice of Senior/Assisted of Senior/Assisted Living: Living: CadburyCadbury Commons Commons The Harvard alumni who chose “There“There is a is stable a stable and and gentle gentle atmosphere atmosphere of Cadbury helpof help and and Commons empathy empathy throughout throughoutmay have the the e community.retiredcommunity. from I feel Iwork, feelassured assured but that not thatI am fromI partam part oflife. of s others’others’ lives, lives, as they as they are ofare mine. of mine. For Formyself, myself, s hou I feelIMuseum feel that that Cadbury CadburyVisits Commons • CommonsPlay Reading provides provides a a wellSymphonywell trained trained and andcaring Selections caring group group of •people ofLecture people who who are interestedare interested in my in welfare.”my welfare.” her/phillip Series • Yoga • Organic Gardening s CallCall (617) (617) 868-0575 868-0575 to arrange to arrange a personal a personal
tour, or visit www.cadburycommons.com ron u tour,Call (617) or visit 868-0575 www.cadburycommons.com to arrange a personal tour, A WhereWhereor visitThe www.cadburycommons.comThe Emphasis Emphasis Is On Is OnLiving Living jade, ceramic, and wooden ob- Phillips House exterior and a 66 Sherman6666 Sherman Sherman Street, Street, Street, Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridge, former owner, Stephen EQUAL EQUAL jects from other trips. “He was MA MA02140 02140 ◆ (617) ◆ (617) 868-0575 868-0575 HOUSING HOUSING MA 02140 • (617)868-0575 OPPTY OPPTY Willard Phillips actually born in Hawaii be- cause his father, Stephen Hen- feur who likely drove the 1924
ry Phillips, A.B. 1842 [whose e Pierce Arrow Touring Car or s
own father was Stephen Clar- hou the 1936 Pierce Arrow Limou- s endon Phillips, A.B. 1819], was sine stored in the rear carriage
the first attorney general to phillip house. Historic New England the kingdom,” says Arrison, who works for emphasizes the “upstairs/downstairs” rela- Historic New England (founded by yet an- tionships, along with personal stories of the other alumnus, William Sumner Appleton, Irish immigrant experience. Harmony gen- A.B. 1892), which owns the house museum, erally prevailed, Arrison reports, although as well as 35 other properties well worth boundaries were clear. Anna Phillips rarely, Ballet classes: visiting. literally, stepped into the kitchen, and the In 1911, when the family moved in, Anna domestic staff lived on the simply furnished age 3 through teen, Phillips renovated the house, eliminating third floor and were on call 24-7. “The family adult and pointe. the dark Victorian interiors and enlarging was very particular and never called them the windows. She also added modern bath- ‘servants,’” she explains. The live-in “girls” Enroll now rooms, a gas stove, and the latest in kitch- stayed on even after Stephen Willard Phil- Summer classes start 7/8 en gadgetry: look for the aluminum manual lips died in 1955. Although “Stevie” grew up, Fall classes start 9/4 bread maker and a “green bean Frencher” married, and moved next door, he request- that sliced the pod just so. (Arrison often ed his childhood home, and its collection Nina Alonso, Director, FPB runs special tours on culinary history and of five generations’ worth of belongings, be 1798a Mass Ave technology, her specialty.) A custom-made preserved and opened to the public after Cambridge, MA 02140 monogrammed set of rose medallion china he died. The museum opened in 1973. “Be- was for company, she notes, while the family cause they cared about their traditions and 617.491.5865 ate its nightly five- or seven-course meals on their house and objects, they saved every- www.freshpondballet.com the “everyday” Limoges and Canton ware. thing,” says Arrison, down to years’ worth of A sample menu offers “orange fairy fluff” handwritten receipts for meat and produce. for dessert. “We’re lucky to have such a complete record Five staffers helped the three-person that can tell the historic story of how this family: a cook, first-floor maid, nursemaid, family and many others lived as America was a coachman/groundsman, and a chauf- moving into the modern age.”
12H July - August 2013 Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746 New England Regional Section
Jonathan Fisher House Blue Hill, Maine 207-374-2459; www.jonathanfisherhouse.org Even by the standards of his day, Jona- than Fisher’s multiple talents and lifelong productivity were highly unusual. He was e and s reared in a Massachusetts Puritan commu- nity, graduated from Harvard in 1795, then eller, 2011.1. f
eum purcha moved to Maine to become the first settled s ocke Congregational minister in the coastal vil- iv R lage of Blue Hill. There, he designed and built his house, which has been altered by eum, partial mu s
u additions and deletions in ensuing years. en Shure and L Jonathan Fisher’s wood engraving “The rt M
f K He was also a farmer, scientist, mathema-
t o Great Owl,” from his book Scripture f tician, surveyor (creating his own tools), Animals, and his home in Blue Hill, Maine worth A s furniture-maker, writer—and taught him- partial gi Farn
self art. “His passion in life was more art woodcuts and printing the illustrations, brink vanden brian and architecture and math than it was re- paintings. He just created a huge number on his own press, for two books: The Youth’s ligion, although he was a good minister for of beautiful things.” Primer (1817) and Scripture Animals (1834). 50 years, and it fed his family,” says Amey The house displays some of his self-por- The latter, considered an important early Dodge, president of the Jonathan Fisher traits, and still-life depictions of flowers, American work, is a 350-page compendium Memorial, which owns and operates the vegetables, and animals. There’s also a wa- of creatures and text from the Bible and is museum. “People come from all over the tercolor of Harvard’s Hollis Hall. For more the subject of the current exhibit, A Won- country to see his furniture, folk art, and than 15 years he worked on carving the drous Journey—Jonathan Fisher and the Making of
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Beautifully renovated. Over 2,000 square feet TREMONT STREET on 2 floors. Designer kitchen and baths. Large deck. 3 bedrooms and 2 ½ baths. Large cook’s Cheery 1920 mid-Cambridge two bedroom, A collector’s paradise. Amazing Georgian kitchen with maple cabinets. Master bedroom two bath duplex near MIT and Harvard. This Colonial completely renovated and expanded with skylights and fireplace. Huron Village second fl oor unit features an open-plan in 2002. A fully restored barn that currently area convenient to the T, shops, restaurants and kitchen and dining area and a living room houses a book collection is also on this Harvard Square. Exclusively offered $895,000 with a bay window. Dreamy master bedroom property. Lush gardens, porches and patios and spa-like bath en suite. Fabulous details complete this very special home. BARBARA CURRIER include Carolina pine and oak fl oors, dentil Exclusively offered at $3,795,000 THE CURRIER TEAM | FINE PROPERTIES crown moldings and marble tiled baths. Margaret Szerlip Phone: 617-593-7070CAMBRIDGE Price upon request Email: [email protected] Web: www.BarbaraCurrier.com CAROL KELLY & MYRA VON TURKOVICH 171 Huron Avenue Vice Presidents | Hammond Real Estate Cambridge, Mass. carolandmyra.com hammondre.com Newton, MA 02465 02138 617.835.5008 & 617.834.0838 [email protected] | 617-921-6860
If you would like to list a property in our September-October issue, contact Abby Shepard: 617.496.4032.
Harvard Magazine 12I Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746 New England Regional Section
Scripture Animals, at Maine’s Farnsworth Art Museum, which owns much of his work. Other Area House Museums with Harvard Connections Fisher also spoke six languages, fulfilled Hildene Marrett, A.B. 1790); Nickels-Sortwell his parsonage duties—writing and preach- Manchester, Vt.; 802-362-1788 House (industrialist Alvin Sortwell and ing more than 2,000 sermons—and was a www.hildene.org his sons: Daniel, A.B. 1907, Edward, A.B. founding trustee of the Bangor Seminary, of- Summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln, 1911, and Alvin, A.B. 1914); Otis House, ten walking the 40 miles there. “They were A.B. 1864; his popularity on campus (Harrison Gray Otis, A.B. 1811, politician not wealthy people,” reports Dodge. Fisher soared after his father’s election. and developer of Beacon Hill); Quincy and his wife, Dolly, worked hard to feed House (controversial Harvard president their nine children, even taking in board- The Glass House Josiah Quincy, A.B. 1828); and the ers and tutoring students. The whole family New Canaan, Conn.; 203-594-9884 Gropius House (Bauhaus founder and made buttons, shoes, and hats to sell. Fisher www.philipjohnsonglasshouse.org Harvard professor of architecture). also made prints and often made money re- Architect Philip Johnson ’27, B.Arch.’43, cording public events, including hangings. called the 47-acre property his “fifty- The Trustees of Reservations “He’d write a biography of the person, and year diary.” Beverly, Mass.; 978-921-1944 maybe do a sketch,” Dodge explains, “then www.thetrustees.org go to the hanging and sell them for two or Historic New England The nonprofit owns:Naumkeag (law- three cents.” During tours, visitors often Boston; 617-227-3956 yer Joseph Choate, A.B. 1852); The Old wonder “how he found the time to do all www.historicnewengland.org Manse (a center for transcendental- of this,” Dodge allows. “He was creative, The nonprofit owns:Cogswell’s Grant ists such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, A.B. industrious, and resourceful. And how he (Bertram Little ’23 and Nina Fletcher 1821); and Appleton Farms (Francis chose to spend his time and life is an im- Little, filled with American folk art); Randall Appleton, A.B. 1875, among oth- portant example of what we can do when Marrett House (Maine minister Daniel er family members who are also alumni). we want to.”
ttoh Our anValued Advertisingk y Partnersou Cadbury Commons Gail Roberts/Coldwell Banker Barbara Currier/Coldwell Banker Fresh Pond Ballet Carol & Myra/Hammond Residential International School of Boston Margaret Szerlip/Sotheby’s RE Lux, Bond & Green Fine Jewelry ree reasons to dine McLean Hospital & Pavilion with us this summer: Minot DeBlois Advisors 1. It’s too hot to cook. North Hill Living 2. Exciting prix fi xe menus for Bastille Day in July and Amex Sandrine’s French Bistro Restaurant Week in August. The Charles Hotel 3. Our open-window al fresco dining. Support from these advertisers Reservations for lunch and dinner helps us produce the independent, now being accepted high-quality publication Harvard alumni rely on for information about 8 Holyoke St., Cambridge MA (617) 497-5300 the University and each other.
12J July - August 2013 88 Reprinted from Harvard Magazine. For more information, contact Harvard Magazine, Inc. at 617-495-5746