Stearns-Cummings House

Readers of this blog and my New Ipswich History Collection have been most helpful with identification of the buildings shown in photographs from the New Ipswich Historical Society. Matthew Kangas identified this house from the last two photos and the description in the National Register matches the photos (see below).

Photo taken Feb 4, 2017
John M Poltrack

NIHS catalog 97.64

NIHS catalog 97.65

#94 Steams-Cummings House, c.1790 (Main Street) - Contributing

Building

This late 18th century woodframe cape is the first structure on the

south side of Main Street after it makes its sharp turn to the southwest

on its way to Smith Village. The main house sits on a granite block

foundation, and is shaded by two large hemlocks. Photographs show that

the center doorway originally had a paneled door with flat trim; the

Greek Revival style surround with flat trim and molding and corner

blocks with pateras and the partial sidelights with recessed panels

beneath is a c. 1900 addition. The paneled door is now obscured by a

later exterior door with 6-light glazing. The front windows have 8/12

sash, with flat trim and drip moldings, and blinds. A window with 6/6

sash and blinds is in the southwest gable end. The square center

chimney has been restored.

A short recessed 1 story gabled ell, of early date, as it shows in a

photograph from 1872, extends to the southwest, on a granite rubble

foundation. It has a window on the front like those on the facade of

the house, and an oriel window with multi-grid sash, supported by flatsawn

brackets, which was added on the southwest end in the 1950's.

There is a small louvered opening with blinds in the gable.

A full shed-roof dormer extends across the rear of the house, probably

added circa 1930. It has five evenly spaced windows with 6/6 sash and

blinds. The first floor of the rear has a multi-grid picture window,

circa 1950, and an entrance.