Barn and Carriage House - Forbes House Museum

The Barn and Carriage House

Their architectural origins & what’s to come

This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Preservation Fund for Eastern Massachusetts of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

History

The Barn and Carriage House are typical examples of an early carriage house and Gilded Age barn. The Carriage House on the right was the original structure. The barn addition to the left was added later, blending two very different architectural styles.

Carriage House

The Carriage House was built in 1833 in the same Greek Revival style as the mansion. Greek Revival was a dominant style in America between 1825-1860, spreading from the East to the West Coast. Its characteristic symmetry, simplicity, elegance and proportionality were inspired by 5th century Greek temples.

The Family

The mansion and carriage house were built for Margaret Perkins Forbes, a widow, and her four daughters.

Thomas Tunno, Margaret’s eldest son, drowned in a typhoon off the coast of China in 1829; insurance money from his estate funded the construction of these stately buildings. Margaret’s two younger sons – Robert Bennet and John Murray – followed their brother into the China Trade and helped support the family.

Architect

The Carriage House and mansion were designed by the architect Isaiah Rogers. They were among the earliest known structures to have been built to an architect’s plan in Milton.

Key Features of Carriage House

Façade resembles a Greek  temple with projecting pilasters, pedimented gable, and a  low-pitched roof
Flushboard siding meant to  suggest stone
Decorative detailing seen in the fanlight design of the lunette window

Isaiah Rogers Legacy

Isaiah Rogers was considered one of the country’s foremost hotel architects. His Tremont House Hotel (1829) was the first to have indoor plumbing. He also designed the Astor House in New York City (1834-1836) and the Exchange Hotel in Richmond, VA (1841). From 1862-1865 he was the Supervising Architect of the United States.

Barn

The Barn was added on to the Carriage House in 1887-89, providing stables  for the horses and a second-floor apartment for the family’s coachman.  It was built in the Shingle Style, which originated in New England and became popular in seaside resorts.

The Family

Like his father Robert Bennet Forbes, and Uncle John Murray Forbes, James Murray Forbes worked in the China Trade. He married Alice Bowditch, the granddaughter of Nathaniel Bowditch of Salem, MA who wrote the definitive guide to navigation, “Practical Navigator.” James and Alice raised  three children in the Forbes House.

Architects

Peabody and Stearns, one of the premier architectural firms in the United States, designed the barn, a rare example of a high-design outbuilding.

Boston’s Leading Architects

By the late 1880s, Peabody and Stearns was renowned for the number and quality of its designs, and for its role as a training ground for young architects.

Key Features of the Barn

Weathered gambrel roof
Cedar shakes blend in with the natural environment
Variety of window sizes and styles

Shingled cupola with a flared base

Stained and varnished bead board in the horse stalls

Today & What's to Come

Barnfest

Currently, the museum uses its historic barn and carriage house as a backdrop for community events, including the popular Barnfests, with live music, local food and craft beer.

Phase I: Stabilize & Make Weathertight

The first step in the multi-phase plan to restore and repurpose the barn is to address water intrusions and structural issues. Areas requiring immediate attention include the foundation, windows, roof, gutters and downspouts.

Vision

The museum plans to restore and repurpose the building, adding utilities and bringing it up to code, while maintaining its character-defining historic features. This wonderful reminder of a long-ago era will be given new life. It will be a flexible space for community events, public rentals, corporate retreats, artist workshops, educational programs and so much more.

Latest Updates

Work has begun! The first phase of work to stabilize and restore the Carriage House and Barn has started in the basement. It involves deep repointing of the foundation and preparing the ground for new footings and slab.

This Project has been funded with the assistance of a matching grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission, a division of the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, William Francis Galvin, Secretary. Additional funding is provided by the Town of Milton’s Community Preservation Act, Massachusetts Cultural Council Cultural Facilities Fund and Preservation Massachusetts/1772 Foundation, as well as gifts from many generous individuals.

Foundation wall; before and after.

Mission Statement

Inspired by the Forbes family legacy of entrepreneurship, philanthropy and social action,
the Forbes House Museum fosters discourse around civic engagement and cultural awareness.