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The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Monday, June 18, 2018

Stonehurst, The Robert Treat Paine Estate, Waltham, Massachusetts

Have a seat, and look at the photos of Stonehurst, a very interesting estate. In 2017, a friend wrote to tell me about this house. I'm glad he did since I hadn't heard about it. On June 11, 2018, I toured the estate and couldn't stop taking pictures.
Side front view of the house.
 Stonehurst, The Robert Treat Paine Estate
100 Robert Treat Paine Drive
Waltham, Massachusetts 02452
Phone: 781-314-3290
(Quotes in this blog are from the above website.)

The view I saw when I entered the house. Impressive. I had been trying to visit the house, for a few years, as it isn't open very often, and not on weekends. Arrangements were made for me to tour the house on my own, and I loved walking around for a good hour. The lady who let me in soon disappeared, and I never saw her again. I yelled at the top of my lungs to thank her when I left, but don't think she heard me.
The movie Proud Mary, starring Taraji P. Henson was filmed here.

"Today, the large spaces within Stonehurst are sparsely furnished with original artwork and built-in seating to highlight the architecture and accommodate large gatherings of people."

"The freeflowing Richardson-designed living spaces were once a foil for the Paines' collections of objets d'arts acquired on tours of Europe and North Africa with Phillips Brooks. Exotic pieces mixed with contemporary works by English and American artists of the Aesthetic and early Arts and Crafts Movements. Robert and Lydia Paine furnished the earlier, west end of their house with traditional family heirlooms and objects purchased shortly after their marriage in 1864."

All the walls had paintings, usually family members, and there were a lot of books in several of the bookcases.

The house is perfect for special events, especially weddings.

 Mr. Paine's Study.
To learn more about the family, see:

 Butler's Pantry.

Walked up the flight of stairs, which brought me to a short landing.

The second floor with different stairwells, which led to small rooms or landings.

In the photo above, I am facing a very dark wing of rooms on the 2nd floor. I was not allowed to go into the wing on the right side. The entire area was pitch black. 

However, I was able to see 2 bedrooms, with little furnishings, and a very interesting bathroom.

Interesting to see a skylight right next to two windows.
 Views from two windows.

"Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and architect Henry Hobson Richardson were neighbors, good friends and colleagues. Stonehurst is the crowning achievement of their collaboration, beautifully expressive of the unity of their artistic ideals."

  
 Looking down the stairs, to see the two views shown below.


  Side view of the house.
While walking through the Old Granary Burial Ground in Boston, I found a plaque for Robert Treat Paine, thinking it was for the resident of Stonehurst. It wasn't, but is for his grandfather, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

I enjoyed my trip, and the weather was perfect. However, there was too much sun, which got in the way of my photography. I hate windows that are washed out, and too many shadows.
The short dirt road curved around and was in full bloom with rhododendrons, mountain laurel and other flowering shrubs.
The house is at the end.




I have decided not to use the Comment feature for my blog. If you would like to leave a comment for me or ask a question, please write me at my email: BarbaraPoole@Gmail.com. Thank you.

My reason is because since November 2017 to May 2018, I received no comments, but upon investigating I found that I had indeed received 167 legitimate ones and 1,000 were in the spam folder. Google Blogger had made some changes that I was unaware of. Please be aware that I do not know who reads my blog, I may know who subscribes, but that is all.