Dole-Little House, c. 1715
289 High Road
Newbury, Mass. 01951
DoleLittleHouse@HistoricNewEngland.org
Directions
Open : May 17, 12-4pm
June 6, 11am-3pm
October 3, 11am-3pm
Admission : Free on May 17 and June 6, $5 on October 3, Historic New England members free.
Group tours available with advanced reservations.
Please call 978-462-2634, June 1 through October 15.
Built around 1715 with materials salvaged from an earlier
structure, the Dole-Little House was constructed for Richard Dole, a
cattleman. The house was built on a two-room, central-chimney plan
with a small kitchen shed at the rear. This shed has since been
replaced with a larger lean-to. Decorative carpentry and finish
include chamfered edges, molded sheathing (especially in the great
hall and parlor) and possibly original stair balusters.
Acquired by Florence Evans Bushee in 1954, the house was
subsequently restored to reflect the original period by restoration
contractor Roy Baker. Baker discovered that new mortise and tenon
joints and various other changes had been added to many of the
salvaged framing members to allow them to conform to the plan of the
house.
During restoration efforts, the lean-to was removed and
reconstructed with new timbers, and small-paned sash from the front
of the house was reinstalled in the lean-to. The paneling from one
chamber was removed and reinstalled as an exhibition room at the
National Museum of History and Technology in Washington, D.C. A
copied version was reinstalled in the chamber. The stair balusters,
removed by Baker in 1955, are now on display in the house. SPNEA, now known as Historic New England,
received the title to the house after Mrs. Bushee's death in 1975.
Visit any of our Newbury & Newburyport partners for a special discount.
Just show your Historic New England member card and save!
Discounts are available at the following partners:
Clark Currier Inn
45 Green Street, Newburyport, MA 01950
Tel: (978) 465-8363
20% off overnight stay (2 night weekend minimum Apr.-Dec.)
Jan, Feb, March, second night 50% off.
Ould Towne Gardens
157 High Rd., Newbury 01951
Tel: (978) 499-0038
20% off plants only
A Loom With a View
31R Pleasant Street
Newburyport MA 01950
Tel: (978) 463-9276
15% off
Plum Island Kayak
38R Merrimac Street - Unit 101 B
Newburyport, MA 01950
Tel: (978) 462-5510
20% off regular daily tours
For full details on membership discounts, please visit our 2008 North Shore member discount page.