Samuel Haven House-Dedham Community House - Boston, MA - Pre-Victorian Historic Homes on Waymarking.com

In Dedham, at the corner of High Street and Ames Street, is the Dedham Community House, which was originally built for Judge Samuel Haven.

The pdf, Historic Dedham Village: A Self-Guided Walking Tour, has a passage about this house (No. 7 on the tour).

The building is a brick and wood building, with an ornate facade facing High Street and a porch facing Ames Street and another on the other side of the house. There is a bay window off the back. The house is three stories tall.

The house was built in 1798 according to the self-guided tour (1794 accoring to the Dedham Community House site) is rumored to be designed by well-known architect Charles Bulfinch. Bulfinch is best known for designing the U.S. Capitol dome, but he designed many houses in the Boston area, as well. The Dedham Community House site has the following about the interior: "The rooms on the first floor feature high ceilings, long French windows, tiled fireplaces, carved mahogany mantles and moldings, and original chandeliers. A graceful curved staircase leads to a second floor with smaller chamber rooms. The curved staircase lends its natural beauty to family photos or as a perfect setting for the bride to enter her ceremony."

Judge Haven's daughters invited guests to the house, such as writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne (writer of The Scarlet Letter and the House of Seven Gables). Then U.S. Congressman Abraham Lincoln had lunch at this house before giving a campaign speech for Zachary Taylor.

In 1922, the Dedham Community House was founded and this organization bought the house and currently holds events. The house is available for rental for small weddings and other events.

Sources:


Dedham Square Circle (Historic Dedham Village):
(visit link)

Dedham Community House:
(visit link)

Earliest Recorded Date of Construction: 01/01/1798 Architectural Period/Style: Federalist Period Architect (if known): Charles Bulfinch Type of Building e.g. Country House, Stately Home, Manor: Manor Interesting Historical Facts or Connections: Lincoln, Congressman at the time, had lunch here. Listed Building Status (if applicable): Not sure. Main Material of Construction: Brick Private/Public Access: Publicly Accessible Admission Fee (if applicable): 0.00 (listed in local currency) Related Website: [Web Link] Rating: Additional Dates of Construction: Not listed Landscape Designer (if known): Not listed Opening Hours (if applicable): Not listed

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