When traveling to Massachusetts everyone thinks to only
visit Boston or Plymouth, but they forget Quincy is in between the two and is
the home of John and Abigail Adams. A beautiful home and farm that will take
your breath away. It also has a library that will make you jealous if you love
to read or do research. The library has over 14,000 books contained inside and
is a wonder how John Quincy Adams ever got anything done with all those books
to explore. The library wasn’t built until well after both John Adams and John
Quincy Adams was dead and buried, but it was truly a labor of love for the
second John Adams’ son Charles to build it in their honor. The library houses
not only their books, but also their personal writings, journals and
correspondence from when they were President. When you leave the library you
enter onto the path to the orchard and gardens that are absolutely peaceful and
gorgeous. You can picture both former Presidents toiling in the garden or
walking hand in hand with their first lady out for an evening stroll. Maybe
even picking a peach or an apple to snack on while they walked. Tranquil and
serene are the two words that came to mind as I explored the grounds of this
amazing home.
The original owner was a Jamaican Sugar plantation owner by the name of Leonard Vassall who built the home and cultivated the lands in 1731. It wasn’t until 1787 that the Adam’s family bought the property and home while they were living in London. Bought sight unseen. It wouldn’t be until 1q788 when the John and Abigail returned to America to live in the home. When reviewing the Architecture of the house you’d never know it had additions added to the original 1731 structure that once was a low ceiling dwelling of only two ground floor rooms, two upper bedrooms and a small attic. It was Abigail Adams who orchestrated the revisions in the house that expanded the right side of the front façade which added a long hallway, larger parlor and a study above on the second floor.
This one house is forever connected to not only politics,
but also the birth and rise of a nation. In 1946 the Adams family gifted the
house and property to the United States as a living history site so that all
who visit the property could learn about the famous residents who once lived
and walked the grounds and home. While the government owns the property, the
Adams family is allowed to use it each year for their annual family reunion.
When I visited the property, a reunion was in full swing with food, family
chatter and picture taking too. If you
ever get the chance to visit the Quincy area, be sure to visit this historical
home, it is well worth the price of admission to spend the day among history,
beautiful surroundings and the peace and tranquility the house and grounds will
give you as you stroll through the gardens.
Author Elizabeth Kilbride is a former political
operative, author, scriptwriter, historian, journalist. business professional,
and creative artist, and life coach consultant. Ms. Kilbride holds a Masters in
Criminology and a BS in Business Management who stepped out of the loop for a while,
but who is now back with a powerful opinion and voice in the direction of this
country and our economy. As a life coach, she is available to counsel
individuals to enjoy their dreams and a better life. Ms. Kilbride loves to
travel, photograph her surroundings and is also a gourmet cook who loves to
garden and preserve food for the winter months.
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