Cogswell's Grant is a working farm and historic house museum in Essex, Massachusetts. It was the summer home of Bertram K. and Nina Fletcher Little, preeminent collectors of American decorative arts in the mid 20th century. Through her research and innumerable publications, Mrs. Little charted new areas of American folk art (which she preferred to call "country arts"), such as decorative painting, floor coverings, boxes, and New England pottery.
In 1937, the Littles purchased this farm, including its 18th-century farmhouse with views of the Essex River, as a family retreat and place to entertain. They named it Cogswell's Grant, after John Cogswell, who was the first English colonial owner of the property, which includes about 165 acres (67 ha) of land. They carefully restored the farmhouse, trying to preserve original 18th-century finishes and carefully documenting their work, and decorated from their extensive collection of artifacts. In more than 50 years of collecting, they sought works of strong, even quirky character, and in particular favored objects with their original finishes and New England histories. They decorated the house for visual delight rather than historical accuracy. The result is rich in atmosphere and crowded with collections of things—primitive paintings, redware, painted furniture, stacked Shaker boxes, weather vanes and decoys—that have since come to define the country look.[1]
The 19th century barn; the rightmost portion is used for visitor facilities, while the balance is used for farm equipment and supplies.
Bertram Little served for many years as president of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, now called Historic New England. The Littles bequeathed the property, complete with its contents and associated records, to that organization in 1984. Part of the 19th century barn north of the house has been adapted for use as a visitor's center, and the rear ell of the house has been adapted for use as a caretaker's residence and visitor restrooms.
Cogswell's Grant is open for public tours Wednesday through Sunday, June 1 - October 15.[1]
See alsoedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cogswell's Grant.
cogswell, grant, working, farm, historic, house, museum, essex, massachusetts, summer, home, bertram, nina, fletcher, little, preeminent, collectors, american, decorative, arts, 20th, century, through, research, innumerable, publications, little, charted, area. Cogswell s Grant is a working farm and historic house museum in Essex Massachusetts It was the summer home of Bertram K and Nina Fletcher Little preeminent collectors of American decorative arts in the mid 20th century Through her research and innumerable publications Mrs Little charted new areas of American folk art which she preferred to call country arts such as decorative painting floor coverings boxes and New England pottery Cogswell s GrantU S National Register of Historic PlacesLocation60 Spring StNearest cityEssex MassachusettsNRHP reference No 90000666Added to NRHPApril 19 1990In 1937 the Littles purchased this farm including its 18th century farmhouse with views of the Essex River as a family retreat and place to entertain They named it Cogswell s Grant after John Cogswell who was the first English colonial owner of the property which includes about 165 acres 67 ha of land They carefully restored the farmhouse trying to preserve original 18th century finishes and carefully documenting their work and decorated from their extensive collection of artifacts In more than 50 years of collecting they sought works of strong even quirky character and in particular favored objects with their original finishes and New England histories They decorated the house for visual delight rather than historical accuracy The result is rich in atmosphere and crowded with collections of things primitive paintings redware painted furniture stacked Shaker boxes weather vanes and decoys that have since come to define the country look 1 The 19th century barn the rightmost portion is used for visitor facilities while the balance is used for farm equipment and supplies Bertram Little served for many years as president of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities now called Historic New England The Littles bequeathed the property complete with its contents and associated records to that organization in 1984 Part of the 19th century barn north of the house has been adapted for use as a visitor s center and the rear ell of the house has been adapted for use as a caretaker s residence and visitor restrooms Cogswell s Grant is open for public tours Wednesday through Sunday June 1 October 15 1 See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cogswell s Grant National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County MassachusettsReferences edit a b Cogswell s Grant Historic New England Archived from the original on 2004 09 26 Retrieved 2014 01 14 External links editHistoric New England Cogswell s Grant Cogswell s Grant Nina Fletcher Little 1937 1984 folklorist 42 38 21 N 70 46 24 W 42 639042 N 70 773393 W 42 639042 70 773393 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cogswell 27s Grant amp oldid 1090660293, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
