top of page

Field Trip: An Exceptional Colonial Farmhouse in Surry, NH, Part I

Writer's picture: Maggie Meahl Maggie Meahl

Updated: Jan 25

Classic New England kitchen hearth New Hampshire style! This room appears to have never been painted , however, at some point a wood stove was installed and then removed (see above fireplace). This colonial-era house and barn is notable for its "in situ" condition.
Classic New England kitchen hearth New Hampshire style! This room appears to have never been painted , however, at some point a wood stove was installed and then removed (see above fireplace). This colonial-era house and barn is notable for its "in situ" condition.

Just this past MLK weekend, my husband Greg and I were invited to good friends of ours family vacation house in the blip of a village: Surry, New Hampshire. My friend had been inviting me for a few years and it had never worked out. The retreat has been lovingly used by an extended family for over 50 years and now they are thinking of selling. It was purchased in 1973 by her grandparents.


Back-door yard of the circa 1770s house in Surry, NH. Note the Georgian-style two-stack chimney style that was popular by the 1760s in New England. Observe the 8/12 Georgian-style windows. There are also simple sidelights surrounding the door--fanlight doors would come later. A modern kitchen window (on the right) is a rare 20th-century addition.
Back-door yard of the circa 1770s house in Surry, NH. Note the Georgian-style two-stack chimney style that was popular by the 1760s in New England. Observe the 8/12 Georgian-style windows. There are also simple sidelights surrounding the door--fanlight doors would come later. A modern kitchen window (on the right) is a rare 20th-century addition.

Front of the house. Note lightening rods everywhere, door sidelights, granite stoop and what appears to be original shutters? Storm door is modern.
Front of the house. Note lightening rods everywhere, door sidelights, granite stoop and what appears to be original shutters? Storm door is modern.

The "addition(s)" connected the barn to the house to mitigate tough New England winters..
The "addition(s)" connected the barn to the house to mitigate tough New England winters..
The ells of the house are in remarkable untouched condition and contain a two-seater privvy and probably at one point a pump room and sink. Looking at the different window styles allows us to estimate the dates of the additions. Two-over-two windows being from the 1870s and 8/12 windows indicating an original part of the 1770s structure. The left arrow points to the dropping off catch basin for the two-seater privvy inside! Yuck! The height of modernity in the 1870s.
The ells of the house are in remarkable untouched condition and contain a two-seater privvy and probably at one point a pump room and sink. Looking at the different window styles allows us to estimate the dates of the additions. Two-over-two windows being from the 1870s and 8/12 windows indicating an original part of the 1770s structure. The left arrow points to the dropping off catch basin for the two-seater privvy inside! Yuck! The height of modernity in the 1870s.

The two main things that are unique about this house are:

1. Few alterations or renovations over the centuries

2. Rufus Porter murals in its parlor.


The family of aunts, uncles and cousins has been celebrating Thanksgiving up here for many years--and has been known to faithfully use an early 20th century oven to cook a 20lb turkey. This requires a couple of brave souls to start the wood fire in the oven at 5 A.M.


Old-time oven which at some point was hooked up to the kitchen fireplace (see mark in wall above fireplace). Based on a quick search I estimate this to be an oven purchased between 1910-1930.
Old-time oven which at some point was hooked up to the kitchen fireplace (see mark in wall above fireplace). Based on a quick search I estimate this to be an oven purchased between 1910-1930.

Honestly, I could write about this house for hours. One of my goals, however, is to have more frequent but shorter posts. Hmmm....Anyway, la piece de la resistance of this colonial-era home is its Rufus Porter (1792-1884) parlor murals. Certified by the Whitney Museum of Art, these murals were painstakingly restored by experts when they were found under a layer (or layers) of wallpaper in the 20th century.


From an article in The Keene Sentinel by Amara Cunningham from March 2004, "In Surry, two walls in a 1776 house are covered with a story. This house, which was Robert Likins' house when Porter was painting in New England, tells a story of a traveling muralist who stayed for a couple of weeks and adorned a room with designs of trees and marsh plants."


It is possible this article refers to this very house but more research needs to be done.


Rufus Porter mural. Note the signature Porter light/dark tree foliage with mountains in the background. All reminiscient of a New Hampshire landscape.
Rufus Porter mural. Note the signature Porter light/dark tree foliage with mountains in the background. All reminiscient of a New Hampshire landscape.

Porter was the quintessential "jack-of-all trades" nineteenth-century Yankee man, lived everywhere, was an inventor and also started Scientific American magazine. His biography makes it sound like he was super intelligent, curious, artistic, and had ADD, "His brain was an overflowing fountain of new ideas and active projects." (from his 1886 obituary)

Main wall parlor mural. Could this be a scene of Lake Surry nearby?
Main wall parlor mural. Could this be a scene of Lake Surry nearby?
Another wall flanking the door and fireplace. Note the classic willow trees, water, islands. Almost a Dr. Seuss-like vibe.
Another wall flanking the door and fireplace. Note the classic willow trees, water, islands. Almost a Dr. Seuss-like vibe.

I am so grateful to be invited to a place like this, to see and live in a relatively undisturbed 18th century private home while drinking beers and playing board games with friends.


Next weekend, before I forget, I will post more pictures about this wonderful New Hampshire home that has seen so much! Hopefully I can figure out who lived there.






Comments


bottom of page