George Francis Dow (January 7, 1868 – June 5, 1936) was an American antiquarian for theSociety for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, active inMassachusetts.[1]
George Francis Dow was born on January 7, 1868, inWakefield, New Hampshire.[2][3] He joined theAmerican Antiquarian Society in 1910.[citation needed] TheParson Capen House (Topsfield, Massachusetts) was restored under his direction in 1913.[4] Dow was instrumental in the creation of thePioneer Village for the 300th anniversary of the founding of Salem, Massachusetts.Joseph Everett Chandler, an architect, and George Francis Dow conceived Pioneer Village as a means to demonstrate life in 1630. They "engaged other experts and architects to help pull it off" before the Tercentenary celebrations. Noted landscape architect Harlan Page Kelsey drew up the plan. Philip Horton Smith planned the restoration of the Ruck House. They created one of America's first living history museums which the city of Salem committed to preserve in perpetuity.[5]
TheJohn Ward House was moved to its present site in 1910 and restored by thePeabody Essex Museum, under the direction of curator and early preservationist George Francis Dow. The house was moved my splitting it into two and rolled on ox-drawn logs from its original site three blocks away. In 1911, The John Ward House opened to the public, becoming the first outdoor museum of architecture in the country. TheJohn Ward House is aNational Historic Landmark at 132 Essex Street inSalem, Massachusetts. The house was built in 1684 by John Ward and added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 1968.[6]
He was a Republican member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 10th Essex district, in the1900 Massachusetts legislature.[7]
Dow died on June 5, 1936, in Topsfield, Massachusetts.[2]
