As a young man, I met an elderly lady who was a connected to the antique world of New England. She was a great collector, and she was famous for her work in historic preservation. Her name was Shirley Carroll whose husband invented SeaLube Paints which was bought out by Dupont. They lived near to Reading and Lynnfield in the most wonderful typical Puritan House. She and her husband were close friends of my parents, and our family had a close relationship with the Carrolls. She and her husband spent every spring in London where Paul Carroll bought important books for his amazing library. Today, I decided I was going to reacquaint myself with the neighborhoods where I spent so much time with the Carrolls. I was near tears as I revisited this lovely part of the North Shore. When I see these clapboard houses, I am reminded of many of the 17th and early 18th century village houses all over England. Day by day, I realize how close the colonies were with their Mother Country. When visiting these New England townships, one can readily understand why even Benjamin Franklin was so hesitant to join the revolution/the rebellion against England. He finally became the “First American,” but it was a long journey coming to that monumental decision. Let’s check out the 18th century colonial homes to get the flavor of a the Massachusetts Colony in the 18th century.
18th Century Lynnfield
Lynnfield centre – the old Community Church
18th century Lynnfield Commons
Town Hall, Lynnfield, 1718
Lynnfield Commons, 1718
Lynnfield Center 1759
Lynfield Farm House 1755
Lynnfield Center Cemetery with flags indicating burial sites from the Revolutionary War
Lynnfield 1725
This early Lynnfield house could be anywhere in many English villages
This is the Carroll Hartshorn House in Reading which is very carefully restored 18th century house. This was the residents of the Carroll family where I spent so many summers in my youth. Magnificent house
Reading, Massachusetts 1743
Stunning 1800 Clapboard Church in Middletown, very near Lynnfield
I have really enjoyed my wandering today. It brought back so much of my youth when I spent so man summers in this part of the world. Interesting, but not surprising, I married a young lady from one of the fine old families from this part of the world. It has been a wonderful day.
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
