Step into the past. Gaze upon the Fairbanks House. This isn’t just any house. It’s the oldest surviving timber-frame house in North America. Imagine the Fairbanks family. Jonathan Fairbanks a Puritan settler built it around 1641. He built it for his wife Grace and their children. Eight generations of Fairbanks lived within these walls. They lived and breathed history here. The house expanded over centuries mirroring the family’s growth. Architectural styles changed. Additions were made reflecting the changing times.
The Fairbanks House isn’t merely old. It’s a treasure trove. Dendrochronology proved its age. The summer beam dates back to 1637. Other timbers date to 1638 1640 and 1641. The house was constructed in stages. The central portion is the oldest. It started as a simple hall-parlor house with two stories and a central chimney. A lean-to was added later. A west wing appeared around 1654. An east wing came much later. Its construction used parts of older buildings.
The exterior tells a story. Wide oak clapboards cover the front. Narrower oak graces the west gable. Narrow cedar covers the rear. The original front door was on the west side of the chimney bay. The rear door remains on the north wall’s west end. The east gable boasts a well-preserved four-light window. The north and east ends originally lacked windows.
But the Fairbanks House holds more than wood and stone. It whispers of folk magic. Hex marks carved into the mantle were meant to protect the house from fire and witches. Shoes found in the attic and behind the chimney were placed there to ward off evil spirits. The house has even survived a car crash. A car crashed into the east wing in 1964. The house survived an arson attempt in 1967. Despite these incidents the house remains a testament to resilience. It is also a repository of family history. It stood through financial hardships. A family heirloom a wooden chest was sold and later reacquired. The Fairbanks House was almost demolished. Its survival speaks volumes.
In 1904 the last Fairbanks family member left. The Fairbanks Family in America Inc took over. They transformed the house into a museum. Today the Fairbanks House stands as a National Historic Landmark. It’s a symbol of endurance and family legacy. It remains a vibrant museum. It is a living link to a bygone era. This house holds more stories than we can tell today. But one thing is certain. The Fairbanks House stands as a true marvel. It is a symbol of American history. Come and explore its unique history. Discover the captivating tale of the Fairbanks family.