Captain Benjamin Harrington House – Fernside // 1835

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Near the side of Mount Wachusett in Princeton, Massachusetts, Fernside has seen nearly two centuries of changing use but has maintained its significance all the while. This house was originally built in 1835 by Captain Benjamin Livermore Harrington (1774-1851) as a late example of a Federal style farmhouse with a symmetrical, five-bay facade and center entrance. Local resident, Wilkes Roper, bought the house in 1870 as the town of Princeton became desirable as a summer retreat, offering visitors cool mountain breezes and sweeping views of central Massachusetts. Mr. Roper added the side wings and opened the house as the Summer House Hotel, primarily renting rooms to Harvard professors and students. By 1890, the building had become the Vacation House for Working Girls. Renamed Fernside, the property became a resort for working women who could not otherwise have afforded a vacation. A week’s stay would have cost these ladies $4 in 1900. Guests arrived by train and were met by the Fernside carriage, which brought them and their luggage to the property. While staying here, the girls hiked the mountain, enjoyed fresh vegetables from the garden, and spent evenings in the library with charades, musicals, theatricals and dancing. Fernside’s final summer as a vacation house was 1988. Today, the property is home to Fernside at McLean, a rehabilitation center operated by McLean Hospital.

Dr. Elisha S. Lewis House // 1914

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Built in 1914, this stunning Craftsman style residence sits on Mountain Road in the charming village of Princeton, Massachusetts. The rustic house was built for Dr. Elisha Sears Lewis (1874-1954), who lived in the home and built a sanatorium behind, where he would treat patients with respiratory illness. Due to its rural location and elevation with Wachusett Mountain nearby, Princeton became a popular tourist destination for city-dwellers in the 19th and 20th centuries, looking to escape the polluted and hot summer in the urban centers of Boston and Worcester. Dr. Lewis capitalized on this demand by building his home and sanatorium with appliances for hydrotherapeutic and electric treatments along with other treatments similar to a European spa. Elisha had a child with his first wife, Jane, and while he was in Europe during WWI, his daughter and wife treated local residents who contracted the Spanish Flu during the 1918 epidemic. When the flu epidemic was over there had been 69 cases in Princeton and not one death, thanks in part to these two women. The Lewis House remains a well-preserved example of its style and is characterized by its boxy form, pyramidal hip roof with broad eaves and exposed rafters, rubblestone chimney and foundation, and multi-pane windows.

Princeton Center School // 1906-2026

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A major loss to the architectural heritage of the small town of Princeton, Massachusetts, is the demolition of its old Center School in 2026. Originally built in 1906, the school was funded by the community a year prior when additional money was set aside to build the school of stone and wood, rather than the traditional brick in many other communities. The school was designed by the Worcester-based architectural firm of Barker & Nourse, who designed the building in an expression of the Shingle style, with a rustic rubblestone entry base and entrances set within arched openings, and continuous shingle siding above. The design was intentional and highlighted the small community’s history and standing as a premier summer destination with its proximity to Mount Wachusett. The Center School housed grades 1-12 until the mid 1950’s, and after just elementary and junior high. When a new school was built in 1991, the old Center School closed, but was long maintained by the town and occupied by the town Council on Aging, private studios, the Princeton Historical Society, and the Princeton Arts Society. The shortsighted decision to demolish the handsome and well-built structure was made, and the site will now be home to a Public Safety building, housing the police and fire departments, which in my opinion could have been built in front of this building or elsewhere.

Isaac F. Thompson House // 1875

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Isaac Franklin Thompson (1823-1900) was a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of Princeton, Massachsuetts. He and his brother-in-law, Phineas Beaman, were early proprietors of the Wachusett House, a hotel in Princeton that catered to visitors arriving to town to take in cool mountain breezes and views during the summer months. In 1860, Isaac Thompson purchased the Greek Revival style Baptist Church in town and converted it into the Prospect House, a large summer hotel with expansive porches to provide visitors with sweeping views near the village. When Isaac Thompson retired from his role as a hotelier in 1874, he had this home built on the outskirts of the main village to enjoy his retirement. The handsome residence operated as the Dutchess Tea House from the 1930s-1950s, and was converted back to a single-family residence later in the 20th century.

Wachusett House Annex // 1822 & 1883

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In the 19th century, the small agricultural community of Princeton, Massachusetts, became a desirable summer destination, where city-dwellers with means would travel to the countryside for fresh mountain breezes and sweeping views of nature. What became this large Second Empire style building, was originally built in 1822 as the residence of John Brooks (1789-1863), who opened the Wachusett House next door as a summer hotel. After decades of growth, the Wachusett House was purchased by Phineas A. Beaman (1819-1894) and his son, Algernon Beaman (1847-1919), who oversaw massive improvements to the aged hotel. The main hotel was renovated and expanded, with a bowling alley and laundry building constructed on the site. The old Brooks House was renovated in 1883 and given its mansard roof and Victorian era trim, to serve as the 41-room annex to the Wachusett House. The business grew by the end of the 19th century, with the Beaman family owning the entire Wachusett Mountain, and building the first carriage road up to the summit. In 1910, the historic Wachusett House burned and the property sold. The only Annex is the only remaining part of the original hotel on the site.

Howe-Muzzy-Parker House // 1822

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Once painted and now slowly returning to its former glory, the Joel Howe House on Merriam Road is an example of a typical middle-class residence of the early 19th century in the community of Princeton. Joel Howe (1797-1864) was formerly a resident of Holden and came to Princeton to marry Lydia Merriam, who’s family had lived in the town since 1788. Joel worked as a blacksmith and reportedly maintained his blacksmith shop in the house and barn built in 1822 and still standing nearby. The family would move to West Boylston and Joel would sell the property to a colleague, fellow blacksmith, Benjamin F. Muzzy (1828-1887). In the late 19th century, the old brick residence was owned by Dr. Charles Edward Parker a notable physician in town. In the 20th century, the house was painted, but is slowly being worn off by time, giving the house a sort of vitiligo effect.

Congregational Church of Princeton // 1838

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The First Meeting House in Princeton, Massachusetts, was completed in June 1762, just three years after the community incorporated. The original meetinghouse was a plain structure that was eventually outgrown and replaced in 1796. By the 1830s, the church was dated and the congregation voted to erect a new house of worship, the first built without tax revenue. The third church, this building, was constructed at the northern edge of the Town Common but was moved to its present location in 1884 to facilitate the construction of Bagg Hall. Completed in 1838, the Greek Revival style Congregational Church of Princeton features a recessed portico, fluted Doric columns and pilasters, and a tall multi-stage steeple. Changes to the building are minor, and date to the 1884 move. The changes include a full basement and the installation of a rose window from the 1762 meetinghouse. Inside, an ornate chandelier said to have been saved from the Maverick Congregational Church in East Boston hangs above the pews.

Ivory Wilder House // c.1842

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In 1842, Ivory Wilder, a shopkeeper in the village of Princeton, Massachusetts, demolished the old store formerly on the edge of the town common and oversaw construction of this residence. Ivory Wilder (1804-1886) worked for a time as the town constable and post master, and operated a store in the main village. He had this residence built as a double-house, where he resided with his family and rented the other half to boarders, including resident, Reverend Willard M. Harding and later Reverend Alfred Goldsmith, both pastors at the Congregational Church. The property later converted back to a single-family residence and was recently renovated. The Wilder House now serves as one of the important landmarks to greet those arriving to Princeton’s town common.

Keyes Homestead // c.1753

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Tucked into the hills below Mount Wachusett, the Keyes Homestead in Princeton, Massachusetts, dates to the colonial era, and is part of a well-known local legend. Robert Keyes, his wife Martha, and their young family settled in present-day Princeton in 1751, and built this home to withstand rough New England winters. Within years of the family settling in Princeton, tragedy struck. Legend states that on April 14, 1755, Martha Keyes sent her two older daughters to collect sand from the banks of Wachusett Lake. Unbeknownst to the sisters, little Lucy, just four years old, followed them. She vanished into the woods and was never seen again, despite search parties combing the forest for years. Mr. Keyes was driven to near poverty in his efforts, selling portions of land and even petitioning the government for financial assistance in 1765. Mrs. Keyes is said to have been driven to near insanity, crying her daughter’s name into the woods for years after her disappearance. Two main theories emerged as to what happened to little Lucy. One grim legend says that the Keyes’ mountainside neighbor, Tilly Littlejohn murdered the young girl. According to a 1827 letter now in possession of Cornell University, a man in the New York area thought to be an elderly Tilly Littlejohn confessed on his deathbed to the brutal murder of the little girl whose father he had quarreled with. The man allegedly said that after the murder, he hid the child’s body in a hollowed-out log. The second theory is that a nearby Native American tribe found, captured and fostered the lost little girl. Reports say that many years later, two travelers came across a white woman living among a tribe near the Canadian border who knew little to no English, but recalled once living near what she called “Chusett Hill”. The old Keyes Homestead remains a well-preserved Colonial residence and tells the story of early heartbreak and the difficulty that was early settlement in New England.

Harrington Farmhouse – Pine Hill Farm // c.1770

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In 1769, Abijah Harrington (1743-1821) moved from Weston and settled in present day Princeton, Massachusetts, where he purchased land on Pine Hill and built this Georgian farmhouse soon-after. He built a home 38’x30′ and a barn and farmed here with his family upon the outbreak of the Revolution. Harrington enlisted with his fellow Princeton militiamen, where he was appointed Corporal. After the war, Abijah and his wife, Sarah, raised their seven children and maintained their farm, having a happy life until 1786. It is not clear what plagued the farm, but within a month, six of their children, ranging in age from 15 years to one year old, died. Abijah and Sarah paid for ornate gravestones for their six children and buried them in the spring at the Meetinghouse Cemetery in the center of town. Their one surviving son, Benjamin Harrington, would inherit the family farm and remained here until his death in 1851. In the late 19th century, the farm was purchased by brothers, Joseph and Edward Brewer of Milton, who seemingly operated it as a summer retreat and gentleman’s farm. It was known as Pine Hill Farm and today remains a private home.

Bagg Hall – Princeton Town Hall // 1884

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Rising from the northwestern corner of the town common, Bagg Hall is the red-brick centerpiece of Princeton, Massachusetts, and it has shaped civic life in the village for well over a century. Funding for the structure came from wealthy businessman, Edward A. Goodnow. Born in Princeton, Edward Augustus Goodnow (1810-1905) was a storekeeper and manufacturer of shoes in Princeton before moving to Worcester where he made his fortune. He became the President of the First National Bank of Worcester and oversaw immense growth for the institution. Goodnow married four times in his 94 years of life, with his first two wives, Hariett Bagg and Mary Bagg (sisters) dying at just 28 years old and 31 years old respectively. In his later years of life, Edward began spending his fortune on charitable causes, including inveting in his hometown which lacked a proper Town Hall or Library. He donated funds for the Goodnow Memorial Library and in 1884, he funded Bagg Hall as the new Town Hall in Princeton, namedbagg in honor of the lives of his first two wives and his son, Henry, all of whom died prematurely. Mr. Goodnow hired Worcester architect, Stephen C. Earle, to design the building which resulted in this handsome brick structure in the fashionable Romanesque Revival style. The only stipulation was that the old Congregational Church was in the way. The solution: Goodnow paid to have the church moved from its site to the eastern edge of the town common. The Bagg Hall building is notable for its strong arched entrance beneath the gable, rounded corner tower with conical roof, and trimming in brownstone and terracotta accents. Today, the building is home of the town’s administrative offices and was restored by 2020.

East Princeton Mechanic’s Hall & Schoolhouse // 1852

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Suffering from neglect, the grand East Princeton Mechanic’s Hall & Schoolhouse stands on Main Street in East Princeton, Massachusetts, as a lasting landmark of the once thriving industrial village. The site was originally home to a one-room schoolhouse built in 1843. Originally a schoolhouse built in 1852 for $600 with timbers from the original schoolhouse that was built in 1843. After about 10 years, the village’s growth necessitated a larger District school. A committee was established to oversee construction and funds for a new schoolhouse, which the committee decided should also include a meeting hall on the top floor, above two classrooms on the ground floor. The Greek Revival style structure is said to have been partially built with timbers salvaged from the earlier building, hence the 1843 date in the pediment. The building operated as a public school until it closed in the 1940s as district schools consolidated. For decades, the meeting hall was used occasionally by the Princeton Farmers and Mechanics Association and later by the East Princeton Village Improvement Society and local American Legion Post until the building was vacated entirely. The building has been left to decay by the town, who own the building, letting this become yet another example of a demolition by neglect.

What would you like to see this building become?

East Princeton Congregational Chapel // 1885

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In the 1880s, members of the First Congregational Church of Princeton, Massachusetts, who lived in the area of East Princeton Village, petitioned their minister Reverend Archibald Love, to consider the possibility of building a small church to accommodate them. Prior to this, members had to travel over three miles every week and sermon, to the Town Center, where the Congregational Church was located. Reverend Love permitted the erection of a small Congregational Chapel in East Princeton, which broke ground on Main Street in 1885. The Queen Anne style chapel features a steeply pitched roof, offset entrance set within a tower with a belfry above, and bands of decorative shingles breaking up the massing of the building. Services in the East Princeton Chapel ceased in 1960 and the chapel was sold by the congregation and was converted to a private residence, while retaining its unique architectural quality.

Stuart Barn – J. H. Stuart Chair Factory // c.1850

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The small village of East Princeton, Massachusetts, developed in the mid-19th century due to its location along a fast running stream that could power small industrial buildings and mills. Chair manufacturing in the village began in 1841 in a shop built by Benjamin Stuart on the edge of Keyes Brook. Benjamin Stuart and his son, Joseph, started a factory where they made high-quality wooden chairs, which were sold in markets all over central Massachusetts. The business expanded and John H. Stuart converted this building, a c.1850 barn that he owned, into a factory/warehouse for the company. In 1904, the business was incorporated under the name of Temple Stuart Company, which moved to Baldwinville, Templeton, to an expanded factory. The barn-turned-factory was converted into a private residence in the middle of the 20th century, a use that remains today.

Parker Farmhouse // c.1777

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The enchanting town of Princeton, Massachusetts, was incorporated in 1759, created out of land that was previously part of nearby Rutland. The town was named after Rev. Thomas Prince, a prominent clergyman, scholar and historian. Known as the Parker Farmhouse, this Georgian-era residence in Princeton dates to 1777, when Thomas Parker (1727-1799) of Lexington, purchased farmland here and began constructing the family homestead soon-after. Thomas resided in the home with his wife, Jane, and their only child, Ebenezer Parker (1750-1839). The Parker’s laid out a family cemetery near the homestead, now known as West Sterling Cemetery, where many generations of the family are buried. Thomas and Ebenezer seem to have run the homestead as a tavern by the late 18th century. The farmhouse remained in the family for generations, and maintains much of its original character.