First Period Houses:Architecture of the North Shore with Gordan Harris

Have you ever wondered what lies on the second floor of Wenham Museum’s historic Claflin-Gerrish-RichardsHouse? Step inside this remarkable 1662 home and explore the architecture of one of the North Shore’s earliest surviving houses. Join us on Friday, October16, for a short lecture with Ipswich Town Historian Gordon Harris, followed by a guided tour of the Claflin-Gerrish-Richards House, including access to the second floor. Gordon will introduce the distinctive features of First Period architecture and the ways early New England homes were designed and constructed during the first century of English settlement. Built in 1662, the Claflin-Gerrish-Richards House offers a rare opportunity to see these architectural details first hand. During the tour, we’ll look closely at features including exposed post-and-beam framing, large, chamfered summerbeams, massive central fireplaces, fine paneling, and other details that reveal how early New England homes were built and lived in. The house also offers a fascinating connection to the broader history of the North Shore. Wenham was once part of Salem, and the Claflin-Gerrish-Richards House later became the site of the meeting that helped bring the Salem Witch Trials to an end. Whilethe lecture and tour will focus specifically on architecture and the history ofFirst Period houses, visitors will have the opportunity to experience ahistoric place connected to this larger chapter of Essex County history. Gordon Harris, Ipswich Town Historian for the past dozen years, maintains the Historic Ipswich website and coordinates the Ipswich Visitor Center. Having spent much of his working career as a carpenter, Gordon has a particular interest in the First Period houses of Essex County constructed during the first century of English settlement. His expertise offers a unique perspective on the craftsmanship, construction, and architectural evolution of these early homes. Come discover the architecture, craftsmanship, and history preserved within one ofthe North Shore’s oldest houses.