Today, we visited the Moffatt-Ladd House in Portsmouth, NH, built in 1763 and with a long history. Above is a side view. We were not allowed to take photos inside the spacious and well-decorated home. You can see a few pictures of the interior at this website, managed by the Colonial Dames of New Hampshire:
http://www.moffattladd.org/home.html
Ideas I took home with me: The bed hangings, etc. in the yellow (bedroom) are made of wool damask. The spools of the main stairway consisted of hand-turned wooden designs, set in repeats of three, with each set having a different style of design. This house was built and owned by a rich, shipping magnet of the day, and his home reflects high-style wall-coverings and furniture. The opulent interior was decorated in direct contrast to the sparsely-furnished quarters where the black servants lived on the 3rd floor, with a short, rope bed, and broken or mismatched pottery in the room.
The garden was absolutely lovely. A Horsechestnut tree, planted in 1776, stands on one edge of the property. With a spread of about 70 feet, according to a postcard, this tree is the “Milennium Landmark Tree for the State of New Hampshire.” What I also noticed right away was the gift shop with its enticing items, including one that is a constant lure for me: books.
The staff was pleasant, and our guide, Gwen, was very knowledgeable. There were many painted portraits on the walls and she knew the names of everyone and how they were related, and moreover, how many children they had, and all the internal workings of relationships.
We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the interior furnishings. It was surprising to learn that James Whipple was one of three people from New Hampshire who signed the Declaration of Independence. This historic site is well worth the trip, as is Portsmouth, in general, with its ocean views, Portsmouth Fabric Co., Strawbery Banke Museum, and seafood restaurants. We love the old architecture there, and we especially note the wide doorways to accomodate flowing skirts of the era, and the “Widow’s Walk” that you can see atop the roof in the first photo here.
Patricia Cummings
