Hattie Furbush House // 1888

Located next to the Harrison Henry Atwood House on Alban Street in the Ashmont Hill neighborhood of Dorchester, this stately home with a broad, gambrel roof oriented to face the street was also built by the architect and neighbor, Harrison H. Atwood. Appointed City Architect of Boston in 1889, Atwood designed schools, firehouses, and other public buildings, and just before this, designed a number of homes, primarily in the Shingle and Queen Anne styles in Ashmont. While he specialized in Victorian styles, Atwood was well-versed in the Colonial Revival style, as evidenced here. Built in 1888, this stunning house was constructed for owner, Harriett “Hattie” Dinsmore Furbush (1862-1950), who was an active member in a local organization, the Ashmont Tourists Club, a women’s social club devoted to talking books, travel, and life. The club often met in the library of Ms. Furbush’s home, which likely migrated out to the gorgeous enclosed porch with its multi-light windows.

Dr. Aretus Rising House // 1854

Dr. Aretus Rising was born in Suffield, CT in 1801, part of one of the oldest families in town who settled here. His father was a farmer of modest means who could not afford the ability to let his eight children attend school routinely as he needed help on the family farm. He eventually moved to Western MA where he graduated the Berkshire Medical School in 1826, soon after opening a practice in Florida, NY before moving back to Massachusetts. He operated a doctors office in Suffield starting in 1845, running it until 1871, stopping due to poor health and failing sight. He lived most of his later years in this modest Italianate home. The house features broad overhanging eaves and a porch supported by stunning lattice columns.