Architecture

When bogged down in permit negotiations to move the house, the current owner turned to the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities - now called Historic New England - to obtain its opinion on the historical significance of the house. A member of the staff made a personal inspection and offered the following assessment, quoted from an August 1974 letter written by George L. Wren III to the Topsfield Board of Selectmen:

"The historical value of such a structure falls into two basic categories:
  1. The house is relatively intact in terms of its original building components and finishes. Herein lies its value, as houses of this type are becoming exceedingly scarce these days. We feel that it is important, from an historical point of view to preserve such examples of our early heritage.
  2. The house is rather unique, as it exhibits not only a gambrel half-house plan, but also has a curious 'Beverly ell' extension. Thus it serves as an example of one way in which our forefathers solved their housing needs, and also, illustrates the way in which they lived their day-to-day lives.
Based upon the above, we would strongly recommend that the house be considered a most valuable asset to the town, and all reasonable attempts be made to preserve the structure. "