Family hangs on to tradition, town's oldest house
By Nora Cardec

The Johnson's house on Wheeler Road has been in their family for the last nine generations.

The colonial house at 603 Wheeler Road has remained in the same family for six generations.

Kenneth Johnson and wife, Cathrine, have lived in the house for the past 30 years.

The bush of lilacs in front of the house, the wild pink and white roses that bloom every spring and even a couple of maple trees in the property nearby the house are a constant reminder for them of past ancestors.

"My great-great-great-grandfather loved roses and lilacs," said Johnson. "He kept a lilacs," said Johnson. "He kept a garden in front of the house. He also planted the maple trees before going to war so the family could get their own maple syrup."

The house was originally built in 1746 - or thereabouts - in what was then considered Townsend.

"It's the oldest house in town," said Johnson. "Actually, the house was constructed before Ashby became a town. I'm the sixth generation in this house and the ninth generation in this town."

Every family who has lived in the house has left something of themselves; a picture, a favorite item, a useful tool, even structural changes.

The property used to be much larger than the 42-acres the Johnsons currently own. Johnson said his ancestors have sold some of the land throughout the years.

Samuel Stone, a constable, originally constructed the house, intending to use it as tavern at some point.

Stone was known as an entrepreneur of his time. He expected a road - connecting Lunenburg to Keene, N. H. - was going to pass through that part of his land, the reason for building the house at that particular location.

From the beginning, the house and farm passed from one generation to another.

Stone passed it on to one of his sons, who sold it to Johnson's great-great-great-grandfather, John Wheeler, in 1811.

The elder Wheeler, after returning from the Revolutionary War, sold the property to his youngest son bore the same name.

John Wheeler, the son, passed the property to his grandson, Francis Wheeler. The Wheelers, who lived in Fitchburg, used the property as a summer home for many years.

F. Louise Wheeler, Johnson's grandmother, inherited the property. She too used it as a summer home until she married and proceeded to moved into the house year around.

"I grew up in this house. I was very close to my grandmother," Johnson said.

The oldest of five children, Johnson said he always loved the farm and the house. He always knew he wanted to keep the family tradition and keep the farm going.

His ancestors raised sheep, pigs, horses and cows. Over the course of time, some even used it as a dairy farm. Johnson, a mail carrier by profession, has concentrated on raising horses and in recent years Scottish highland cattle.

The house was originally a combination of colonial and salt box style, he said.

The salt box part, which was in the back of the house, was removed in the 1940s. A more modern, open-style room was added in later years, as well as an apartment on the second floor.

The framing of the house is the only thing that has been kept intact along with the old pine men quilted work, which adorns the original fireplace in the living room. Some of the hardwood floors are also original.

A combination of sentimental value and efficiency has ruled the decisions made in and outside the house. Many compromises have been made, said Johnson.

The windows, for instance, although keeping the look of the original-era of the home's construction have been replaced with energy saving windows. Central heating and more efficient plumbing and electric systems have been

installed.

For convenience, a space adjoining the house to the barn has been added, as well as the two front lampposts. The kitchen cabinets have been refaced and the wood stove that sits in the middle of the kitchen is a reconstructed version of old stoves.

One thing Johnson said he will not compromise on is vinyl siding. He said he wants to keep at least the front side of the house as original as possible.

Old pictures, wall hangings, dinnerware, a sugar bucket, a tin of sulfur matches brought from Louisiana after the Civil War, even the canteen John Wheeler's father -the first Wheeler to own the home - took with him to the Revolutionary War, all are decorative accents in this 260- year-old house.

After Johnson married Cathrine, they lived in the house in an upstairs apartment. It was part of his ancestral tradition to live with extended family.

Johnson said his grandparents wanted to keep the farm in the family and he was the only one interested in keeping it.

"My grandmother passed it all to me," he said.

Johnson said he is ready to pass on the family farm to his oldest son, Matthew, who will soon come with his wife to live in the house of his ancestors.

Of the Johnsons' two sons, Matthew, like his father, is interested in keeping the roots of his family and the farm, while his brother, Andrew, has no interest on the farm.

"Matthew is driven to keeping the farm going. He likes to work with wood and with animals," said Johnson. "Andrew is more into sports. Not everyone is cut out for it (farming life)."

The Johnsons said they have plans of converting the old barn, which dates from the early to mid 1800s, into a house for Matthew and his family. Though initially, they will all live in the main house.

Johnson plans to retire to his farm and work along his son. He said his farm is his heritage, his history and his roots.

Johnson's mother, Eleanor, daughter of F. Louise Wheeler, lives next door. His uncles and cousins also live in adjacent land.

"I can't conceive, after I retire, going anywhere else. "There is no place I want to go. There is no place any better than this."

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Nora Cardec is a correspondent for The Community Journal and can be reached at: ncardec@yahoo.com or (978) 827-3386. Ext. 10.