Thomas Sawin Homestead - Natick, MA - Pre-Victorian Historic Homes on Waymarking.com

In Natick, along South Street, is a white house that is known as the Thomas Sawin Homestead. The oldest part of the house, according to a painted rock in the basement, was built in 1696 and was lived in by one of the first white settlers in Natick.

The house is a colonial style building that is just feet from the road. It lies within the Broadmoor Massachusetts Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary. The plaque on the house has two dates: 1688 and 1770. There are several interesting features to the house. There are two floors. The second floor very slightly juts out over the first. It has a hip roof on the top.

Thomas Sawin came to Natick around the time the house was built. Sawin built grist and sawmills in the area, including a gristmill within Broadmoor Sanctuary. Ruins are still visible there. Go to the nature center for a map (there is a fee to enter the sanctuary if you are not a member of Massachusetts Audubon) to find the site. At the time, Natick was still a Praying Indian Town. This was a type of mission village originally founded in 1651 by Reverend John Eliot. Sawin was one of the first white settlers in this area. Eventually, the area would be overtaken with white settlers and, thus, Natick then would transition to a town like every other town in the commonwealth.

The house looks uninhabited, right now. A blog stated that Mass. Audubon cannot maintain the house and the house is now threatened with demolition.

Let's hope it doesn't come down to that.


Sources:

Boston 1775 [Blog] (Thomas Sawin Homestead in Natick: 1692-?):
(visit link)

Natick Patch.com (Three Centuries and Eleven Generations):
(visit link)

Earliest Recorded Date of Construction: 01/01/1696 Additional Dates of Construction: 1770 Architectural Period/Style: Colonial Architect (if known): Either Thomas Sawin or unknown Landscape Designer (if known): Massachusetts Audubon? Type of Building e.g. Country House, Stately Home, Manor: Stately Home Interesting Historical Facts or Connections: If it isn't the oldest surviving structure in Natick, it is one of the oldest. Thomas Sawin was one of the oldest white settlers in an area that was still maintained as a "Praying Indian Town." Listed Building Status (if applicable): In poor condition, and threatened with demolition Main Material of Construction: Wood Private/Public Access: Privately Owned Conservation Land with Public Access Related Website: [Web Link] Rating: Admission Fee (if applicable): Not Listed Opening Hours (if applicable): Not listed

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