1753 House

The 1753 House which stands in Field Park was constructed entirely by unpaid volunteer labor, as one of the most concrete manifestations of Williamstown's 1953 Bi-centennial celebration. Extensive research scanned historic records for proper design and construction techniques so that this building would resemble as accurately as possible the type of dwelling erected by the original settlers in the winter of 1752-53.

In the 18th century a clause in the land grants from the General Court provided that title to a lot was not valid until a settler cleared five acres of land and had built a house measuring at least 15x18 feet and with 7-foot sud (distance between sill and plate). This building is an example of such a "regulation house." In subsequent years the "regulation" house was usually enlarged by adding a similar 15x18 feet section to the chiminey side of the house. The roof line would be carried over and the resulting proportions (30 foot front and 18 foot depth) were quite pleasing. A second fireplace in the new section tied into the first chiminey. Cases of adding a lean-to on the back of the house were not unusual.

All of the heavy oak frame of the 1753 House came from trees felled and hewn in the White Oaks section of the town. When West Hoosac (Williamstown) was founded, all the white oak in the township grew north of the Hoosic River on the lower slopes of the Dome, Mason Hill, the Little Dome and East Mountain. The white oak was so valuable for framing that the Proprietors divided the timber land into 63 slices - one for each of the Proprietors and one each for the school, the church and the minister. All of the clapboards and shakes are split, or rived, from ash.

The present chiminey contains stone from the foundation of the first sawmill erected in town. The stone is laid up dry, the chinks filled with clay. The oak lintel over the fireplace itself is of sufficient bulk and is far enough above the actual fire so that only slight charring of the beam would take place over the years. The problem of flashing around the chiminey as it extends through the roof is met by increasing the size of the chiminey at this point so that stone will carry rain out over the surrounding shakes.

Sleeping quarters in the house are located on a crude second floor built around the chiminey for warmth and reached by a rough ladder. Hemlock boughs covered the exposed saplings of the sleeping loft. Further protection from the elements was gained by covering with straw-reinforced clay the back side of the clapboards.

Williamstown Historical Society