Converse, Marquis - Tarbell, Charles House - Brimfield MA - Pre-Victorian Historic Homes on Waymarking.com

By tradition, what is considered the oldest house in town, dating ca. 1738, is the two-story, south facing ell on the Marquise and Sophia Converse House, 7 Brookfield Road, 1738 & 1823 (MHC #20). Its builder is recorded as Nathaniel Hitchcock and a date of 1738 given by 19th century town historians. The main block of the house is dated 1823 and the two sections – main block and ell – were visually united, probably by Elias Carter, with the addition of a single-story porch across the ell. The ell retains little that is stylistically definable from the Georgian period. It is three bays
long on the south elevation and small-scale second story windows are placed tight against the eaves. Foundations are granite. There is a center chimney and pitch of the roof is shallow in comparison to other Georgian style buildings. If comparable, dated tree ring sequences are available, dendrochronology could determine a date for the structural members of the ell.

Marquis Converse (7 Brookfield Road) in 1823 began the first of his several Center enterprises as the second owner of the Brimfield hotel and postmaster. In 1828 he expanded business by driving around town selling meat from a wagon. He invested in a sawmill and started a carriage factory with Nathan F. Robinson, blacksmith, and Abraham Rutan, wood worker. The carriage factory later incorporated a saddlery. Converse was a deacon in the Congregational church, and played the viol to accompany the church choir. In town affairs he was a selectman 1816-1818 and in 1825; in 1834 he was a representative to the General Court.

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Earliest Recorded Date of Construction: 01/01/1738 Additional Dates of Construction: 1823 Architectural Period/Style: Georgian Type of Building e.g. Country House, Stately Home, Manor: Country House Interesting Historical Facts or Connections: Contributing Property on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places Brimfield Center Historic District Main Material of Construction: Wood Private/Public Access: Private Related Website: [Web Link] Rating: Architect (if known): Not listed Landscape Designer (if known): Not listed Listed Building Status (if applicable): Not listed Admission Fee (if applicable): Not Listed Opening Hours (if applicable): Not listed

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