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n addition to writing novels, one of my passions is visiting and researching historic sites. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the historic Jacob Hill Farm in Seekonk, Massachusetts. It is now an amazing wellness center, with three of the original structures still gracing this beautiful property, 300 years after the farm was first built! Before it became the wellness center, it was Jacob Hill Inn, Seekonk's first professional bed and breakfast. The owners of the Inn purchased the property in 1991, and did a great deal of work to restore the landmark buildings, while also researching the property's history. Much of this post includes information from their website and television appearance, used with permission. Visit the site for more details and photos at HistoricJacobHill.com and view the corresponding 3-part televised discussion on Discovering Seekonk History. The land itself was first deeded to Reverend Samuel Peck by the Wampanoag Tribe. It passed through generations of his family and was eventually deeded to Thomas Allen in 1722. With 10 children, building a large home was necessary, and it still stands today. When Calvin Jacob, a prominent deacon, married into the family, the property eventually acquired the name Jacob Hill Farm.
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The "Front House", known as the "Club House"
during the years it was a hunt club
(and then again when it was the Inn), as it appears today |
In 1915, the wealthy Grosvenor family purchased Jacob Hill Farm, in part due to their love of horseback riding. In 1924, it became the Jacobs Hill Hunt Club, a members-only establishment possibly arising in part to the restrictions of Prohibition. The Grosvenors donated the Front House to the club, and that became the Club House. Members included such prestigious figures as former Governor of Rhode Island William H. Vanderbilt and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Roger Firestone, and Mrs. Gammell Cross of the family that founded what is now A.T. Cross, one of the oldest pen manufacturing companies in the world. (There are even some Knights on the list! Probably no relation). See the member (box holder) list from 1939 and other photos on the Historic Jacob Hill website under the History tab.
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The arbor was once a coach stop ~
note the seats on the sides! |
In another current photo of the Front House, you can see the arbor that was once a coach stop on the Providence to Taunton route. Note the seats on the sides for waiting passengers. One of the other three buildings still standing today was originally a barn which was converted to a carriage house. The third structure, known as "The Barn", was the barn constructed by the Hunt Club. It was painted white...a symbol of affluence at the time as white paint cost more in those days than the usual red paint associated with barns on farms. It is still white today.The Hunt Club was active from 1924 -1943, hosting horse shows and fox hunts (where no foxes were actually harmed! Only their scent was used for the chase). The property passed through several families until it was purchased as an Inn. At one point, a member of the Atomic Energy Commission resided there, and there was a phone in the Front House that connected directly to the White House.
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Hello? ;)
Door to the Front
House basement |
So, with such a rich history, this author of ghost mysteries had to ask about any unusual happenings. One person told me he saw the door to the basement open by itself while standing in the current kitchen of the Front House, but of course, it is a very old (but very beautiful) building. Speaking of kitchens, the Front House still holds fireplaces original to the building, including the one pictured below, which was a cooking fireplace (note the long iron arm). To the right, the small door still houses a beehive oven, once used to bake bread.
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Original cooking fireplace and beehive oven (behind door) |
I've posted a few more of my photos below! Thanks for stopping by, and if you enjoyed this post, you might also want to check out a few of my other posts on historic places: Historic Mt. Washington Hotel, Historic Falmouth, Cape Cod, Haunted, Historical Barnstable, and Visiting Brewster.
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Side view of the Front House |
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Gazebo off the Front House |
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Wallpaper in
the Front House |
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The Carriage House, now a gym and offices
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Sunset at Jacob Hill |
