The Richard Jackson House is a historic house in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Built in 1664 by Richard Jackson, it is the oldest wood-frame house in New Hampshire. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968. It is now a historic house museum owned by Historic New England, and is open two Saturdays a month between June and October.
Richard Jackson House | |
 ca. 1909 postcard image | |
   | |
| Location | 76 Northwest Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°4′51.28″N 70°45′59.35″W / 43.0809111°N 70.7664861°W |
| Area | approximately 1-acre (4,000 m2) |
| Built | 1664 |
| Architect | Richard Jackson |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 68000009 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1968[1] |
| Designated NHL | November 24, 1968[2] |
History
editRichard Jackson was a woodworker, farmer, and mariner, and built the oldest portion of this house on his family's 25-acre (10 ha) plot, located on an inlet off the Piscataqua River, north of Portsmouth's central business district. Jackson's house resembles English post-medieval prototypes, but is notably American in its extravagant use of wood. The house as first built consisted of a two-story structure with two rooms on each floor, flanking a massive central chimney. Not long afterward, a lean-to section was added to the rear (north side) of the house, which slopes nearly to the ground. Further single-story additions were made to the gable ends of the house, probably c. 1764.[3]
The founder of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA, now Historic New England), William Sumner Appleton, acquired the house for SPNEA in 1924 from a member of the seventh generation of Jacksons to live there. Appleton undertook a restoration of the property, removing 19th century modifications, and providing the building with leaded diamond-pane windows of a type that it would have had in the 17th century.[3]
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1968.[2][3]
The George Rogers House, located just east of the Jackson house, is also a Historic New England property,[3] but is not open to the public.
See also
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References
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- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
- ^ a b "Richard Jackson House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
- ^ a b c d James Dillon (March 11, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Richard Jackson House" (pdf). National Park Service.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) and Accompanying 5 photos, exterior, from 1967 (3.24 MB)