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Eddyville, Middleboro,
Massachusetts In 1962,
descendants of the Eddy Pilgrims of 1630, and other Pioneer
Eddys of the 1600's organized the Eddy Homestead Association to
preserve this graceful, historic house and use it to display
valuable family mementos that have been discovered over the
years. Unlike many similar houses, which were originally the
abodes of the wealthy aristocracy, the Eddy Homestead represents
gracious country living of Zachariah Eddy, a country lawyer of
fine character and practice. The house has been attractively
restored since 1962, with many interesting exhibits now on
display.
AMERICA'S MOST HISTORIC EDDY HOME
WHERE GENEALOGY ADDS LIFE TO
HISTORY
Built in 1803
THE ZACHARIAH EDDY HOMESTEAD
By Sylvia
T. Breck "Located in
Eddyville, at the Four Corners, stands the impressive homestead
of Zachariah Eddy, built in 1803 by his father, Captain Joshua
Eddy, as a wedding present to Zachariah, when he married Sarah
Edson, daughter of Polycarpus and Lucy Edson. It was also built
as an enticement for Zachariah to move from Plymouth back to
paternal land. When built it stood
on "about half or three fourths an acre of land* and the house
consisted of four rooms. On this same amount of acreage,
Zachariah built the stable and the law office. Over the next few
years, he added the kitchen and woodshed, as well as the stone
fences. He continually purchased land, mainly from his brothers
who had inherited it from their father, Joshua. When completed,
Zachariah's land holdings consisted of about 100 acres and
according to his Commonplace Record Book he estimated that his
total estate had cost him $6000.
Construction in those days was truly from raw material, for not
only were the trees felled on the property, but the massive
12x12 beams were all hand hewn at the family's sawmill and the
wooden pegs and nails were likewise handmade. Sheer human
strength and energy put the beams in place and their uprightness
today attests to the quality of the workmanship.
As the Homestead passed to Zachariah's heirs,
changes and improvements continued to be made, each enhancing
the property or benefiting the needs of the owner.' The library
was added; the dining room was extended, a sleeping porch was
built above it. Two rooms were added over the carriage shed,
back stairs were installed, and in later years one bedroom was
reduced in size to make room for a bathroom.
Through all of these changes, the Homestead
lost none of its charm, for each owner obviously kept very much
in mind the original four rooms which were a foundation for the
future. It has known love, life, tragedy, happiness and sadness
but through it all came a family united, guided by God."
"There's a story that goes
with it!" - is certainly true of the Eddy Homestead. It comes
from the Eddy Genealogies that tell of family lore of 400 years
ago. And Eddys helped make early history in five nearby towns in
eastern Massachusetts, and thereafter in many parts of the
U.S.A. Family mementos go back almost 400 years, each with its
contribution of history or mystery that ties in with America's
own history and growth. The story is there - for a fascinating
hour or two, or for years of study.
" The Eddy Homestead is a symbol of the people and the ideas and
the things that have gone before . . . Not as a lifeless
collection of valuable treasures, but as a source of inspiration
and high ideals that can make for better family life and
education and knowledge and activities and human relations . . .
Thus will it enlighten the future of all who contact it and
learn Of its hidden values . . . May it long continue. as a
shrine in Eddyville, and in our hearts as a standard, of which
we strive to be worthy." A Homestead Association member
The photograph below was taken
in 1880. Note Z. Eddy's round roofed law office at the right. in
1929 it was moved to Storrowton in the Eastern States exposition
Fair Grounds in West Springfield, Mass to become part of that
New England Village restoration.
"If the America we love continues her
favored way among nations, it will ever be because of those very
qualities woven into the fabric of our nation's life by our
ancestors in old New England. Thence comes the clear stream of
true Democracy that makes America's story. Thence springs the
path for Liberty's sure progress in the earth. Thence burns like
a clear flame the reverence for God that has lifted the
Anglo-Saxon race to world leadership. Thence will ever flow
streams of inspiration that shall guide their loyal descendants
upon the untried paths of the future . . . We accept those
obligations which you our ancestors have passed on to us in the
building of a nation in the fear of God and in behalf of the
Brotherhood of Man."
David Brewer Eddy
The Eddy Homestead and its
displays, combine in a fascinating way, the genealogy of a
family, with family history and exhibits dating back to the late
1500's. The following are representative of the many interesting
and famous people touched upon:
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Col. Jonathan Eddy of the
Revolution, famous for the Eddy Rebellion at Fort
Cumberland, N.S '
Gen'l. Manton Sprague Eddy, Commander-in-Chief U.S.
Occupation Forces in Germany, 1950-53.
Col. Ernest Eddy Haskell,
Rough Rider in the Spanish-American War.
George Sherwood Eddy,
missionary, author and lecturer.
David Brewer Eddy, brother
of the above, and President of the Eddy Family Ass'n.
1920-1946.
Cephas
Thompson, famous artist of Middleboro.
Dr. Rufus Hathaway, artist
and physician of Duxbury, Mass. |
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Study and research
over the years have brought to light many intriguing mysteries
amidst all this material, some solved and some not. That is one
of the reasons why "Genealogy adds life to History!l'
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