Ashby home boasts two centuries of history
Ashby By Nora Cardec Journal Correspondent
David and Julie Boutwell are the caretakers of the 200-yearold

The Boutwells' approximately 3,000-square-foot house was built on Main Street in 1803.

house that sits atop a small hill on Main Street.

The Boutwells are the sixth family to own the property. They purchased the house a year ago.

The federal-style house, with its 12 rooms and approximately 3,000 square feet, keeps to its original blueprint for the most part. Aside from electricity and the upgrading of its heating and plumbing systems, the house maintains its rich historical character.

The Boutwells have carefully filled each room with antique pieces that reflect an era of comfort yet simplicity.

The Boutwells, who are originally from Leominster and Fitchburg, are fascinated with their house and one acre of land. They said they consider the house a treasure of which they are the caretakers and plan to preserve for future generations.

"Old houses have more character and give a sense of warmth and comfort," said Julie Boutwell.

For David Boutwell, a history buff who works in home renovation, old houses are not "cookie cutters as new houses" and have a sound structure.

David and Julie Boutwell stand at the side entrance to their house. (Right) An antique carriage rests in the Boutwell barn.

"An old house finds you as much as you find it," he said.

The house was built in 1803 by Cushing Burr, an influential man in Ashby. Burr and his brother, Jackson, ran a tannery at the property.

The house passed ownership to Sarah Hayden - historical records do not show specific year - and then to David Howard Damon in 1877.

Damon, a contractor, paved the first road in town - County Road. His status in the town was prominent as he also housed the fire horses and pumper in his barn.

The original barn was struck by lighting and completely destroyed in 1898. A new barn, which is still standing today, was erected a year after the incident.

The front porch of the house was added in the early 1900s after Damon's daughter became ill with tuberculosis.

The house remained in the Damon family for more than 100 years as one of his sons, Howard David Damon, took it over. The house and farm were sold in 1972 to the Kelseys.

While under the second generation of Damons, the farm thrived by harvesting apples, harvesting ice and running a dairy. A brother, Benjamin Damon, moved his blacksmith shop to the property in the early 1900s. The ice harvesting lasted until the late 1930s.

Besides the kitchen and pantry, the Boutwells plan to restore the original wood and glass windows throughout the house, as well as the fixtures in the master bathroom.

"There has been some cosmetic and painting work done," said David. "We're planning to redo the kitchen to make it more in tune with the period of the house. Anything we do in the house we want to keep with the time period. We want to keep its integrity."

The living room and formal dining area, along with the bedrooms on the second floor, have high ceilings in contrast with the lower ceilings in the kitchen and the informal dining room.

The house was structurally designed to have lower ceilings in the back, which the Boutwells believe aided with keeping the house warm. In the 1970s, the owners exposed many of the ceiling beams that were otherwise covered.

The rich colors of burgundy, midnight blue, celery green and buttery yellow grace the main rooms on the first floor. Doors and window frames are accentuated in white.

The size of each room is generous, which gives the house its elegant feel. Darkened, wide plank hardwood floors show the passing of time. There are no wood carvings or eccentric details.

Symmetry is what gives the rooms its affluent look - closet doors flank the fireplace on either side along the center wall. The windows in each room seem to mirror the windows on the opposite side of the house.

The Boutwells have also adjusted to the feeling of isolation the many rooms present at times. Some of the rooms are disjointed from the rest of the house, such as the master bathroom, which sits two steps below the rest of the structure.

The property also includes massive space in the three-story barn that is attached to the house through a shed.

The privy - an outhouse - still stands intact with an adult seat and an child seat.

Other pieces of history remain as well. The old blacksmith shop still has old nails and horseshoes inside but is in total disrepair. The Boutwells are saddened knowing it will have to be torn down.

David Boutwell said he and his wife are still adjusting to the house - its many rooms and its history. He said people are unable to go in any room without wondering about the people who preceded them and made memories there.

"This is still new to me; it's an adjustment," said Julie Boutwell about living and caring for the two-century-old home.

Some of the adjustments the Boutwells have made include reducing their wardrobe because the closets are small and narrow, living with low ceilings, and using some of the old "warmers" - cubbyholes in the old kitchen used to keep food warm - as storage places.

They are not as concerned with cost as much as with maintaining the genuineness of their house. But mixing the conveniences of the modern world with a bygone era can be expensive and requires a lot of sacrifice.

Restoring an old house is a balancing act, a trade off, they say. But a welcome one.

- + -

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