Sumner Hill House

Did you ever imagine a piano dealer’s grand home becoming a haven for a suffragette? Here at 76 Elm Street stands the Sumner Hill House. It’s a beautiful example of the Victorian-era homes that grace Sumner Hill in Jamaica Plain. The house was built in 1884 for Walter Herbert Miller, a prosperous piano dealer. He and his wife, Mary Alice, enjoyed its asymmetrical design, porches with turned posts, and the mix of wood clapboards and shingle siding. Sumner Hill House transitioned from a merchant’s residence to a suffragette’s sanctuary around 1919. Judith Winsor Smith, a prominent figure in the women’s suffrage movement, rented the house. She lived here with her daughter, Zilpha Smith, a dedicated social worker, until Judith’s death in 1921 at the impressive age of 100. Imagine Judith, having fought for women’s right to vote for so long, finally casting her first ballot at age 99 in 1920, right here in this house. Sumner Hill House stands as a testament to both the elegance of a bygone era and the spirit of progress that shaped the 20th century. This house witnessed not only the changing architectural styles of Boston but also the changing tides of social reform. It echoes with the stories of the Miller family’s success and the Smith women’s unwavering dedication to a better future. Sumner Hill House is more than just a beautiful building. It is a tangible link to a pivotal moment in American history.