This Old House

Killicut House // c.1740

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Thought to be the oldest extant residential building in Nashua, New Hampshire, the Killicut House is an important piece of local history of the early settlement days of the city. The exact date of construction of the Killicut House is not known, with local legend stating that the house was built between 1680 and 1700 with other estimates dating the house slightly later, to 1740. It was known for years as the “1700 House”. Regardless, this is one of only two 18th century houses remaining in Nashua. The first known owner of the house was Thomas Killicut (1723-1784) who resided in present-day Nashua by 1746 when he was chosen to hold the position of field driver for the newly established town of Dunstable, New Hampshire (an extension from Dunstable, Massachusetts). Killicut served as one of “Rogers Rangers” in the French and Indian War. During the early to mid 19th century, the Killicut House apparently passed onto members of the Blodgett family who were apparently related to the Killicuts as up until the 1960s, the house was still reportedly owned by descendants of Thomas Killicut. Later in the 20th century, much of the land was subdivided and single-family homes were built nearby, with the Killicut House now located on the end of an unassuming cul-de-sac. It is a great example of a Georgian-era Cape style house with central chimney.

Dr. Henry Jacob Bigelow House // 1886

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The Dr. Henry Jacob Bigelow House, sitting high on Oak Hill in Newton, is among the last designs (1886) of architectural icon Henry Hobson Richardson. If you already didn’t know, Richardson was one of the foremost architects of his day and is known both for bold Richardsonian Romanesque and Shingle style designs. He was hired by Dr. Henry Jacob Bigelow to provide plans for a sprawling country retreat from the noisy and cramped conditions in Boston. Dr. Bigelow was an eminent surgeon in Boston who earlier, helped facilitate the first public dose of ether as anesthesia on a patient, a breakthrough that led to the stunning Ether Monument in the Boston Public Garden. Bigelow only got to enjoy the country estate for a couple years until he died in the home in 1890. Years later, the estate (and nearby buildings) became home to the Peabody Home of Crippled Children, which worked as a sort of open-air hospital. Eventually, the home was vacated and sat, deteriorating on the hill. It was saved from demolition through the efforts of preservationists in Newton, and was restored as a part of “This Old House” with Bob Vila. It was restored as a set of five condominiums sited in a sunny interior courtyard.