Houghton-Sprague House

 

The house is an example of a first period house that had been expanded over the years. The original house (the western part) was built as a garrison elsewhere by James Houghton between 1682 and 1704. The eastern part was originally built on this site (in Harvard) in the 1730s. The two structures were “married” together around the turn of the 18th century and the house has passed from father to son through five generations. No homestead in Harvard has remained thus permanently in the same family.

Anne Baker acted as a historic preservation consultant to the owner of Houghton-Sprague House, Karla Pearlstein in 2006-2008. Materials in the collection, including photographs provided by Pearlstein, were used to investigate the history and structure of the house. It does not appear that Baker was actively involved in the restoration of this house. For more information, please refer to In Historic Harvard Town and the Select Board Agenda for November 16, 2021, pp. 29-133.

Follow

Documentation

PDF

Houghton-Sprague House: First Floor Drawing

PDF

Houghton-Sprague House: Harvard Historical Society Records

PDF

Houghton-Sprague House: History of the Town of Harvard, Massachusetts, 1732 - 1893

PDF

Houghton-Sprague House: Lot Map

PDF

Houghton-Sprague House: Massachusetts Historical Commission Application

PDF

Houghton-Sprague House: Period Details to Houghton Garrison House

PDF

Houghton-Sprague House: Second Floor Drawing

PDF

Houghton-Sprague House: The Houghton-Sprague Farm 1665-1981

PDF

Houghton-Sprague House: Will of James Houghton

Images

File

Houghton-Sprague House 010: Image Series, May 2006

File

Houghton-Sprague House 020: Image Series, May 2006

File

Houghton-Sprague House 030: Image Series, May 2006

File

Houghton-Sprague House 040: Image Series, May 2006

File

Houghton-Sprague House 050: Image Series, May 2006

File

Houghton-Sprague House 060: Exterior

File

Houghton-Sprague House 065: Exterior Facing South

File

Houghton-Sprague House 070: Side of House with Sheds

File

Houghton-Sprague House 080: Shed Rafters

File

Houghton-Sprague House 085: Cupboard in Stairwell

File

Houghton-Sprague House 090: Beehive Oven

File

Houghton-Sprague House 095: Interior Entry Into Cellar

File

Houghton-Sprague House 100: Beams in Front Room

File

Houghton-Sprague House 105: Cellar

File

Houghton-Sprague House 110: Arch in Cellar