Country Homes of Famous Americans (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ...delights." For ten years after Byrant's death Cedarmere was unoccupied. The house and the property below the highway are now the home of a grandson of the poet's. After the fire of 1902 the dwelling was rebuilt as nearly as possible on the old lines. It is a modern house that one sees at Cedarmere now, however, and the old clapboarded dwelling on which Kirk, CHAPTER IX HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW Cambridge, Massachusetts r THE mansion in Cambridge which the Longfellows have owned since 1843 1S one f tnfi best-known houses in New England. Not only was it the home of America's most popular poet, but this stately edifice was Washington's headquarters during the siege of Boston; in its spacious rooms the wife of the Commander-in-chief held court; and by legend and romance the place has been charged with an atmosphere that is fascinating though indescribable. A short walk to the westward from Harvard Square brings one to the "Craigie house," as the mansion has been called for over a century, which is supposed to have been built about 1759 by Col. John Vassall. It faces south on Brattle street. Originally, it is said, the dwelling was surrounded on the east and north and west by one hundred and fifty acres of rich level land. In those days the place was one of the half-dozen or more large estates that lay along the tortuous highway between Cambridge and Watertown that is now called Brattle street. And, today, it is possible for one who walks along the now thickly settled thoroughfare to pick out these venerable structures from among their younger associates by their purity of architecture and stateliness. They were called the Tory Row. Almost all their proprietors were kinsfolk, and owned estates in the West Indies. Across the street from the Craigi...