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The Old Parsonage was
constructed in 1850. The exterior detailing of the Church, the Old
Parsonage and the shed wing follow the Greek Revival style prevalent
in mid-nineteenth century America. The use of classical precedents
for architectural details was based upon archaeological discoveries
in Greece. Greece, being the symbol of democracy and independence,
became the architectural inspiration in the new American Republic.
The Old Parsonage is constructed of large, hand hewn posts and beams
held together by wooden pegs. It is finished with wide pine floors.
The walls are lapped clapboards over wide pine sheathing on the
exterior and lime plaster over wood lath on the inside.
The porch was built under a later campaign, within a decade of the
original construction. The interior was used in a somewhat formal
manner as befitted a country parson in the nineteenth century. There
was a careful zoning of the service areas from the living areas.
A secondary stair, surprising in a house of such relatively small
size, enabled servants to go about their activities without interfering
with the Parson, his family and the parishioner guests.
A slight hierarchy in the degree of trimwork further distinguished
the formal areas of the house from the secondary areas. The highest
level was used in the Parlor and the Dining Room. A medium level
was used in the three upstairs bedrooms (the north bedroom may have
served as a library). The remaining portions of the house have the
simplest form of trim.
Nineteenth Century vernacular New England houses relied upon the
newly available paints for their decoration. Paint was applied on
all surfaces including the ceilings, walls and woodwork. Likewise,
the simple pine floors and furniture, usually unwittingly stripped
and stained, were originally painted and grained.
As was prevalent at this time, there were no masonry fireplaces.
Heat was provided by cast iron wood stoves/hearths on the first
floor with a system of flues and vents providing heat to the second
floor. A traditional wood cook stove was used in the kitchen. The
Dining Room Stove is cast iron in the shape of a church.
Substantially untouched since the 19th Century, the Parsonage was
acquired and conserved by Joseph Pell Lombardi in the 1970's. |
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Liberty
Tower 
