Dwight–Henderson House Explained

Dwight–Henderson House
Nrhp Type2:cp
Nocat:yes
Partof:Taconic and West Avenues Historic District
Partof Refnum:98000680
Location:Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Coordinates:42.1914°N -73.3656°W
Built:1759
Architect:Allen, Daniel
Architecture:Historical
Added:March 26, 1976
Designated Nrhp Type2:June 11, 1998
Refnum:76000237

The Dwight–Henderson House is a historic house at 390 Main Street in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. It is the second oldest house in Great Barrington, built in 1759 for Joseph Dwight, a brigadier in the colonial militia, by local builder Daniel Allen. The saltbox home was originally built into a slope, and had three stories on the front and one in the rear. The house has been moved twice, but remains within 200feet of its original site. The second move, the foundation that formed the wall for the original first floor, so it now presents only two stories in front.[1]

The house is notable for several historical associations. In addition to General Dwight, who was also town moderator and selectman, and a county judge, the houses notable guests include British General John Burgoyne, who surrendered his army after the Battles of Saratoga in 1777, and spent several days here while en route to the Boston area as a prisoner. It is also the house where poet and newspaper editor William Cullen Bryant was married; he was a guest of the owner, Allen Henderson.[1]

Since then, the house has seen a variety of uses. It served for a time as housing for the nearby Berkshire Motor Inn, and now houses professional offices.[1] The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and included as a contributing property to the Taconic and West Avenues Historic District in 1998.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MACRIS inventory record for Dwight–Henderson House. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2013-12-04.
  2. Web site: NRHP nomination for Taconic and West Avenues Historic District. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2013-12-04.