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Old Manse
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9 reviews for Old Manse
Overall, I had a good time/education experience at the Old Manse. The tour guide was knowledgeable, most of the furniture dates back to the original, and the grounds were also quite beautiful.
This is a really fun date idea when you want to get out of the city and especially if you enjoy history, particularly New England writers such as Emerson and Hawthorne.
I'd give this place 5 stars but the people selling tickets in the front room had forgotten to take their ADD meds and could not figure out how to run a credit card machine.
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So Emerson used to live here. You may have heard of him? Ralph Waldo, that's the one. And a certain Nathaniel Hawthorne. Something about a scarlet note, or something. It was first owned by Emerson's grandfather during the revolution. Which means it's pretty darn ancient. Seeing the length of the beds and height of the door frames it's so old the people were even smaller.
Okay, all jokes aside now.
The building and its grounds did indeed survive many historically significant happenings - muskets firing, red coats charging - right in its backyard. The original structure is still standing, ornamented with furnishings from the 18th and 19th century. Antique and piano buffs will swoon over the 1864 Steinway piano, that even now resonates a-beauty.
A tour (preferably with the knowledgable and humored guide, British Tom) reveals the writing room shared by Emerson and Hawthorne. And the window panes where Hawthorne and his wife engraved love notes to each other with their diamond rings. With a look at the picturesque grounds, the epitome of bucolic New England, it's no wonder they felt enlivened and amorous.
Great for a slice of history and picnic date in serenity.
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My first look at a historical crapper! (see pic)
While it's a bit too quaint and serene for my city-boy tastes, it definately is a must-see for history buffs, especially fans of the great Nathanial Hawthorne, or, as was in my case, a great spot for group picnics and get-togethers.
The house itself is a great walk down history lane, complete with a historical crapper (I know... I can't get over how small toilets were back then), a drop spindle, ancient Steinway piano, stuffed owl whose eyes follow you everywhere (even to the historical crapper), teeny tiny "adult" beds (it's a wonder how they procreated), and, for the true romantics, numerous windows throughout the house where you can still see romantic messages/letters carved by diamond ring from Hawthorne to his bride.
The grounds are huge, green, filled with mosquitoes, and come complete with some historical bridge that repelled either the British troops, rebels, or Nazis (I forget, wasn't really paying attention at this point of the tour as I was still stuck on the crapper thing).
Make sure you take the tour with Tom, who, being British, will give his own view of what really happened during the war (damn redcoats!).
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Manse is a minister's home and Old is really old. Our tour guide was an very enthusiastic Tom B. who was gave apt and concise historical references that abound in the house. He also pointed out the many idiosyncratic features of 18th century living. It's similar to visiting Sturbridge Village or Williamsburg, but all in a 2000 sq foot house, and without the busyness of lots of dressed up actors who, despite best intentions, lend an air of inauthenticity.
I personally liked seeing the Canton china dishes and vessels, I have a few minor pieces of the same kind. It occurred to me that they were only 60-80 years old at the time the Hawthorne's acquired them. Possibly the most esoteric things there, when you think about it. Well, save for the English "crapper". Tom tells us that there was indeed, an English gentleman by the name of Thomas Crapper who had much to do with early flush toilets.
The grounds are pristinely managed by The Trustees of Reservations, a private organization that New England is blessed to have.
A must-see stop along the many sights that is beautiful Concord!
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WOOT!
Okay... Tom was awesome (the caretaker/manager) with his interactions with our group and also his knowledge of the area. I did not take the tour of the house. We were a big group of people and I live somewhat nearby and have decided I'd rather take the tour when it's less people.
The grounds, however, are spectacular and there's much to see. It's also near the center of town so there's a lot to explore there as well.
I especially like the guy on the bridge playing bagpipes that's apparently there on a regular basis.
If you need to get away from it all... this is a great place to visit.
Also, in general, the Trustees are a wonderful organization to support. They maintain properties all over the state. I am a member and will continue to be, whether or not I get the kind of use out of my membership I'd like to.
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I'm going to review the spot as a place to hold a function. Mostly because I skipped the House Tour, as I have done it before, and quite frankly, I wanted to be outside, and enjoying that...
So, we had a tent, a large amount of space, and electricity. All Grand. It was in a fantastic location, right on the River, and the scenery was gorgeous.
Tom, the Director, was a funny bloke with a great Liverpool (I think) accent. He seemed to really enjoy our being there. Also, great.
There was some confusion about bathrooms, and facilities to begin with.
But, that was minor.
The only thing I'd caution anyone about, is that you'd better bring bug spray. My legs, neck and wrists are covered with welts. And, I sprayed!
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The grounds that the Old Manse sits on are beautiful. There is a boat house and a lake, with a view that you could find on a post card. I opted out of the tour with Tom, and now wish I hadn't! I wasn't in a touristy mood that day... but that just means that I have a valid reason to go back another day.
The area next to the Old Manse with the tent is perfect for an afternoon picnic, party, etc.... and I heard through the grape vine that it was very reasonably priced.
The only down side to this place were the mosquitos! They were like locusts devouring our tasty bodies... so when you're out walking the grounds... WEAR BUG SPRAY... and if you're going to be staying in one spot for awhile, bring lots of insect repelling things - i.e. citronella candles (but I'm not sure if you can have candles b/c of the "fire hazard" - so you would need to check on that before you go).
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I am on a mission to go to all the Trustees of Reservation properties between now and August 2009. See, I got a free membership and I intend on using it! To my surprise, and great joy there happened to be a Yelp event at a Trustees property. Of course I went! However, my #1 reason for going was Ligaya and not the location. Just saying.
The Old Manse is less of a manse than I thought. From the outside my initial impression was that the location was very great as it is in the extremely historic town of Concord. The grounds were gorgeous. The lawn area is expansive, there is a nice pond area with a bridge, there appeared to be some trails to take a stroll on. Lovely. The house itself just seemed like your normal old house. Not much of a mansion, but I was intrigued by its apparent plainness.
Events can be hosted there, events such as ours. We had a nice tent set up on the lawn and a small area in which to set up a volleyball net. Further down is a tranquil area on the pond with a bridge and some nice landscaping. Great spot to sit, think, and contemplate.
The tour of the house turned out to be one of the most interesting historical house tours I have been on. Our tour guide, Tom was incredible. He not only put up with a group of gregarious and obnoxious Yelpers, he was witty, funny, and knew his historical facts. To top is all off, he is British. Having a British tour guide automatically wins points and makes everything better. He could joke about how us Americans kicked the Brits ass in the Revolutionary War. Eat that suckers! Although with the current state of the country I wonder if the Brits still owned us, maybe, just maybe that would be much nicer. Blasphemy! I digress.
Anyhoo, in this tour you will learn about the Emersons, and the Hawthornes (Hawthorne is said out loud in a British accent. Like HAWWWWthorne), the history that took place on the grounds (battles nearby, Nathaniel Hawwwwwwthorne writing and getting inspiration here etc....) They have a very old piano that the Trustees are very proud of and they played us a few tunes. Some of the most interesting and amusing parts of the house:
* Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne were madly in love. So much so that they scratched love letters to each other with diamond rings on the windows. These love letters are still there and you can read them. Incredible. This was so fascinating and sickly romantical.
* The attic is scary place. In the attic, famous artist Edward Simmons once lived. As a child he drew pictures on the walls of one room in the attic. Those sketches are still there. Amazing.
* As others have mentioned there is an old time crapper in the attic. Disgusting, interesting, and served our Yelp potty humor well.
* As you climb the staircase to the 2nd floor there are these pictures on the wall of important men. One of these men is severely cross eyed. Now I shouldn't mock challenged people, dead or not, but imagine walking up the stairs, looking at these pictures and noticing one of them is completely cross eyed. It is funny, no??
I like the Old Manse. I can cross it off my list. But most importantly Ligaya's goodbye party was here and it was a grand time with some Yelpers!
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This house gives me chills. The good kind. It's been around through the revolution... which was fought right in its back yard, literally... North Bridge (from 'Shot heard round the world fame') is just out the back door. There is so much history here, from war history, to religious history, to Hawthorne history (it was his first home with his bride, who wrote messages which you can still behold in the windows with her diamond ring), Emerson history (through many generations, and where Ralph Waldo Emerson drafted 'Nature'), and there is even a vegetable garden that was originally planted by Henry David Thoreau as a wedding present to the Hawthornes. An amazing place to visit!
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