| Cushing Homestead | |
| Location: | 210 East Street Hingham, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates: | 42.2403°N -70.8625°W |
| Built: | c.1678 (MACRIS)[1] |
| Added: | June 4, 1973 |
| Refnum: | 73000326 |
The Cushing Homestead is a historic -story first Period saltbox-type house in Hingham, Massachusetts. As it stands today the residence has traces of both 17th-century English style as well as later 18th-century Georgian.
Hingham town clerk and magistrate Daniel Cushing (1618–1699) was granted a plot of land from the town in 1665, and later built a house there for his son Peter (Cushing) sometime in 1678.[1] [2] There is "clear and visible" architectural evidence in the two front chambers and attic that the house was originally one-and-a-half stories high.[1] This one-bay depth structure was later extended (creating a lean-to) before the 1700s toward the back of the property away from the street.[3] At some point in time between the end of the 17th century to the early 18th century the house was raised to its current height.[1] Evidence from this transition include a second set of rafters visible on the second floor.[3] The second bay was possibly added (creating the saltbox-type house) in the mid to late 1700s when the lean-to was extended back again.[3]
Both the NRHP entry and books written on the matter mention that the southwest corner of the house retains the original 17th century kitchen.[3] When this room was restored in 1936 the original painted plastered walls and timbered ceiling were also discovered.[1] Other elements that have been preserved intact include the exposed sills, girts, posts, ceiling beams, and shadow molding.[3] The kitchen also includes extremely rare original "yellow on black sponge painting" (added c.1700) that adorns the ceiling rafters.[3] [4] Interior elements in the other bay of the house include pained wood-paneled ceiling beams. These are considered to be more formal decoration styles which date to the mid-1700s.[3] Although electricity and plumbing have been added, the house still retains its "stylistic integrity".[3]
Among the Cushing family members who have occupied the home since it was built was Capt. Peter Cushing (1741 - 1783), grandson and namesake of the first owner. A selectman and constable of Hingham, Capt. Cushing commanded a company of troops during the Revolutionary War under fellow townsman General Benjamin Lincoln.[5] [6]
An elm tree on the property, a local landmark for years, was famous as the place where pastor John Brown preached to a group of Minutemen from Cohasset in 1775. The soldiers afterwards took part in the Siege of Boston under Col. (later Brigadier General) John Greaton.[7]