Parson Capen House | |
 Parson Capen House | |
   | |
| Location | Topsfield, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°38′36″N70°56′57″W / 42.64333°N 70.94917°W /42.64333; -70.94917 |
| Area | 1.1 acres (4,500 m2)[1] |
| Built | 1694 |
| Architectural style | Postmedieval English |
| Part of | Topsfield Town Common District (ID03001488) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000139 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966[2] |
| Designated NHL | October 9, 1960[3] |
| Designated CP | June 7, 1976 |
TheParson Capen House is an historic house inTopsfield, Massachusetts, built in 1683. It has drawn attention as an example of early colonial architecture and because of its well-preserved condition by comparison with other contemporaneous houses.
The Capen house was built on a 12-acre (49,000 m2) lot[4] in 1683 as theparsonage for the localCongregational Church.[5] It is located at what is now 1 Howlett Street, next to the Topsfield Common.[6] It was first owned by the ReverendJoseph Capen, who had moved to Topsfield fromDorchester. His wife had seen the previous parsonage and was disappointed by its condition.[4] The family lived there for over forty years.[7] At the time that it was built, it was considered to be the best house in the town.[5]
The house was declared aNational Historic Landmark in 1960.[1][3] It is one of the best preserved homes from its period inNew England.[7] The Topsfield Historical Society currently operates it as ahistoric house museum.[8]
The Capen house was built withEnglish style architecture, and it bears a strong resemblance to many houses in England.
The house features overhangs calledjetties at the front and sides, but not the rear, of the building. Although many have assumed that the overhangs were intended as protection fromNative Americans, they were primarily decorative and also served to shield people from rain.[5] The house has a small entrance hallway leading to the staircase.[9] It contains four rooms, each of which contains a fireplace. It has exposed low ceilings with wooden beams.[9]
Hanging wood pendills, ornaments that were carved by the carpenter who built the house, were also used as decoration.[5]
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