Joint Property in Cambridge

Did you know that we Americans jointly own one Georgian-style 3-story mansion, complete with a carriage house and formal gardens, located at 105 Brattle Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts? 

Longfellow House

The Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House was bequeathed in 1913 to the American people by a trust, established by the surviving children of noted American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  Tim and I visited our property and, no doubt you'll be glad to know, we found it in good repair. 



Because it is somewhat distant from Boston's Freedom Trail, we had the place to ourselves, and enjoyed a personal tour under the guidance of Rob, a National Park Service ranger.

Rob & Tim on the 2nd floor landing

Longfellow House was built in 1759 for Major John Vassal, Jr.  He and his family lived there until the rising sentiment against colonists loyal to King George forced them to flee to England in 1774. 

Bust of G. Washington

Upon his arrival in July 1775, General George Washington found the location of the house with its view of Boston across the Charles River strategic and seized the home, turning it into his military headquarters.  For the next nine months, Washington lived there, along with his staff of senior officers, plotting military strategy and receiving visits from Revolutionary leaders including Benjamin Franklin. 

Longfellow House's Parlor

Early in December 1775, Washington's wife Martha and her children joined the General there and remained to see the British evacuate Boston in March 1776.  To celebrate the British retreat, Martha hosted a jubliant party in the front parlor.




Purchasing the house in 1791, Andrew Craigie, the nation's first Apothecary General, made extensive renovations to enlarge the home. Once completed, "Castle Craigie," as it was then known, became the scene for many lavish entertainments enjoyed by Andrew and his wife, Elizabeth.  Unsurprisingly, when Andrew Craigie died in 1819, he was deeply in debt, forcing his wife to rent out rooms to boarders.  

Washington's Bedchamber

One of those boarders was a young Harvard professor of languages, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who marveled to a friend that his two rented rooms "were once George Washington's chambers."

Longfellow spoke eight languages, but wanted to become a poet.  When Longfellow's lawyer father asked him in a letter what he planned to do with his life, Henry replied with these words, "I most eagerly aspire after future eminence in literature.  My whole soul burns most ardently for it."

I cannot help but wonder if his father spent many a sleepless night, worrying about his son's financial future.

The Longfellows' Bedchamber

While boarding at Castle Craigie, Longfellow met and fell in love with Frances "Fanny" Appleton, daughter of the extremely wealthy Boston textile manufacturer, Nathan Appleton.  At first, Fanny ignored Henry's suit, but after seven years, she agreed to marry him.  Her father bought the Vassall-Craigie home for the couple as a wedding gift, but then promptly wrote his daughter out of his will for making such a poor marriage.  Yet, it was a congenial family life that would grow to include five children.  Henry and Fanny frequently entertained other aspiring writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and John Greenleaf Whittier in their home.

Christ Church, Cambridge

I'm certain that Longfellow cheered Ralph Waldo Emerson's speech, "The American Scholar" made on the steps of Christ Church, directly opposite the gates of Harvard College in 1837. That speech by Emerson is rightly known as America's Intellectual Declaration of Independence, for up until that time, there were few native American writers. Emerson's speech, however, was soon followed by a virtual explosion of American literature, including works written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.



Convinced that he could not become an emminent poet when his days where filled with teaching, Longfellow resigned from his position at Harvard.   That decision freed him to publish such works as "The Song of Hiawatha," "The Courtship of Miles Standish," and "Paul Revere's Ride."  Who among us cannot quote its opening line, "Listen, my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere."  With these poems and more, Longfellow created legends and heroes that helped to define our identity as Americans.

That's quite a history for this house jointly owned by us all!

Portrait of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow