The Biggest Man in Mendon

Rumor has it that in 1850, a child who was later to become the biggest man in Mendon's history was born at the home of Nathan C. Aldrich and his wife, Dianna. According to the census map, Nathan's brother, Scammell, lived close to the 140 acre homestead. Perhaps Dianna assisted her sister-in-law with the birth of Horace Scammell Aldrich, who reportedly weighed in at up to 500 pounds as an adult. The Town Crier featured a story about Horace in it's June 1996 issue. Despite his robust size, Horace lived to the age of 75, which, for the time, was considered a ripe old age.

Newborns and New Kitchens

Our contracter gutted our old kitchen at Resthaven the day I brought home my son from the hospital. I figured I'd be in a coma for the next 3 months anyway, so why not get it all done at once (colic and huge renovation project)? In hindsight, it was a really good plan, being on site every day during my 11 week maternity leave. I didn't really need a kitchen for our new addition to the family, as I was nursing, and my mom lived a minute away with dinner for everyone else. I love building and renovating houses. I built my first house (with the help of the critical construction eye of my fiance) at 25, and thought it was a great experience. Renovating this historic house was just the same. For our kitchen project, we hired Landmark Services, which specializes in renovating antique properties, as respecting the history of the house was of utmost importance to us. Renovation finished the day I went back to work, and the result was superb. Three small rooms were gutted to create a large open space with ample granite countertops and a huge island. We bumped out the back wall to create a built-in banquette eating area, filled with light, overlooking the back patio and pool. It is glorious, and actually won an award in a Better Homes and Garden renovation contest. I will never go without a range like the Thermadore we installed, with 4 gas burners and a built-in grill, and a huge electric convection oven. For northeasterners, the grill is just about the best invention for a cook, as grilling year round is simple. The custom cherry cabinets, with the mantle surrounding the range, are elegant and flow perfectly with the house, as do the random width wood floors with antique square head nails. Numerous salvaged wavy glass windows and a french door leading to the solarium let in ample light all day long, creating an inviting space in which everyone loves to gather.

Superb Manor House

Let me describe Resthaven, and how it struck me upon first laying eyes upon it 12 years ago. As I dr0ve by the property, the first thing I noticed were the centuries old stone walls lining the road. And then, turning into the driveway, past the old stone pillars, there it is, sitting majestically high on a knoll. "WOW" is all I could think. The house's granite block construction and Greek Revival massing give it a presence of solidity, enormity, and a sense that neither Mother Nature, nor time, can touch this place. Pulling up the driveway, lined by six 150 year old Maple trees, feels like something out of a novel. The 4.9 acre property, with its extensive lawn and mature plants and trees, gives the feeling of stepping back in time to an English country manor. Again, stonewalls are everywhere, and tucked into the back corner of the lawn, by the woods, sits a storybook-like stone chapel. Although I can't see it from here, I can hear a brook's rushing waters. As we enter the side door of the house, I see a warren of small rooms, and the kitchen. A plant-room/mud room with skylights, off to the left, leads to the two car garage. The kitchen was designed for a maid, not a family. That will have to change, I think. A swinging door leads to a grand dining room, complete wih a fireplace, built in china cabinet, and wainscotting. French doors on either side lead out onto the front porch, and the back granite patio, for al fresco dining. The floors strike me. They are wide heart pine, something I've never before seen, and they stretch endlessly as I look down the long corridor ahead. There is a powder room, and a reading alcove with a fireplace (very cozy!), and a library with french doors and bookshelves, along with a huge closet. Great family room spot. We enter the grand front-to-back foyer. I could drive a car down these hallways, they are so wide. The grand main staircase is there by the front door. Next comes a double sized living room, reaching from one end of the house to the other. Its like a ball room, with a huge fireplace and built-in cabinets. The 7 huge windows give off incredible light, which is something I've noticed through out the house. The windows are big, and numerous, so every space is filled with natural light. I notice the window sills, which are two feet wide, thanks to the granite construction. Gorgeous moldings everywhere. Upstairs, the rooms are large, especially the master, which sits above the double living room. Again, windows and light everywhere, and looking out at the branches of the enormous maples, I feels like I'm in a treehouse. Enormous shower in the master bath, and three closets, with one walk-in. Closet space is NOT an issue here. We head back to the other end of the house, passing 4 more bedrooms, and 2 more full baths, and numerous closets. The place seems enormous, but at the same time, it feels comfortable. Like home. We head down the "good morning" staircase, and out to the back yard. Except it's not a "yard", it's more like an estate. I mentioned the chapel and brook, but there is also an in-ground pool, a carriage shed, and a complete sense of privacy. There is a huge blossoming lilac bush, along with too many other flowering trees and bushes to count. Without even knowing yet of the significant history of the property, I am hooked.

The Stone Walls of Resthaven

Like most historic New England properties, Resthaven is laced with stone walls, intact and untouched by a developer's back-hoe. The walls' positioning on age-old property lines indicate that they have stood in place for well over 200 years. One of the most charming attributes of antique stone walls, which cannot be truly replicated by anything newly built, is the abundance of moss and lichen covering the surface of the stone. Years of exposure to extreme New England weather create the timeless blend of colors and textures; the bright springtime greens and deep greens of new and old moss, and the opalescent light grey-blues of lichen. A charming blueprint saved from 1912 shows Resthaven's 130 acres, delineated not by the straight lines of a ruler, but by drawings of stone walls, punctuated with landmarks such as The Red Oak, The Skating Pond, and Indian Rock. The blueprint is a link to the not-so-distant past, when our land was not just an antiseptic drawing of straight plot lines and numbers sitting at the assessor's office, but rather a living thing with many unique and special features which we knew by heart.

The Hunt for Red Oktober

One of most interesting things about owning an historic property is uncovering its many secrets. An antique house will inevitably keep some secrets tucked away, forever hidden in the past, and others will be revealed only with great effort, such as during a renovation. Many secrets, however, are in plain sight, like puzzles waiting to be pieced together. And so it is with the enormous galvanized steel tank secured with industrial sized rivets that lies in the far corner of our huge cellar at Resthaven. All who enter the cellar inquire about the tank, which I have affectionately named "Red Oktober" in honor of the Tom Clancy book. (It's fun to tweak my young son's imagination with stories about the Soviet era submarine in our basement.) Of course, the truth about Red Oktober is far less exciting. After wondering about it's purpose for years, I was informed that it is simply a huge water tank, a vestige of the Seabury era, when Resthaven served as a girl's boarding school. Water was pumped into the tank from Spring Brook, and then up to the main living areas for household use. Today, it is no longer hooked up the plumbing system, and is simply a reminder of a page in the history book of Resthaven.

Conservatory Dreams

I have always yearned for a conservatory at Resthaven. To me, there is nothing quite as architecturally pleasing to the eye as a conservatory and an old stone house. The juxtoposition of the delicate glass and wood frame against the weighty masonry creates a harmonious balance, a ying and a yang, that is undeniably romantic. The image conjures up visions of an English country retreat, surrounded by sprawling lawns and secret gardens; a place to wander and lose oneself in ones thoughts. Walking inside the open doors of the conservatory from the surrounding terrace, one instantly notices the floor,with it's black and white marble tiles in a checkerboard pattern. To the right of the door lies an umbrella stand and riding boots, next to a small table on which lie my gardening gloves. Fig trees in cast iron urns and masonry planters piled with ferns fill out the corners of the light-filled space, whilst precocious garden statuary peer out at me. The furniture is light, yet comfortable, with its overstuffed cushions, a perfect place for repose. I might read a book, or take an afternoon nap, as the rays of sunlight gently warming the room will surely lull me to sleep.

Who in the World is Nathan C. Aldrich?

A descendent of George Aldrich, one of the founding fathers of Mendon, Nathan C. Aldrich was a Quaker born in N. Smithfield, RI in 1799. In 1821 he purchased 140 acres from his brother, Luke Jr., and set out to reputedly build "the biggest stone house in Worcester County". He employed highly skilled Quaker stone masons to construct the dressed granite house with stone from local quarries. In 1824, the house was completed, along with it's enormous dairy barn, and he began farming the land. He married his wife, Dianna, in 1825 and they had one child, Elizabeth, born in 1830. Nathan died of cholera in 1867, and left his large granite house to his wife and daughter.

Gone Fishin'

At Resthaven, we are fortunate to have picturesque Spring Brook flow through both the western and northern portions of the property, providing a wonderful and natural buffer of privacy. It's clear, rushing waters provide a soothing backdrop to the ears, and it's coolness prevails throughout the summer, so that one can notice a significant temperature difference when sitting by the mossy stone covered banks. Ferns and spruce trees abound, and it's location down a small ravine creates an atmosphere in which one could imagine being out in the middle of the wilderness. I often see deer peering through the trees there, their well-worn paths clear to even a child's eye. Because the brook's water is clear and cold, and it's topography such that it is fast-running, combined with areas of calm, dark pools, it is the perfect environment for fish, and in particular, trout.

I am not much of a fisherman, but have seen others fishing certain favorite spots on Spring Brook successfully. My attempts at catching "the big one" usually end up with fishing line wrapped around myself and tree branches. I figure I am more of a danger to myself than the fish, and so have given up hope of bringing home dinner. Former resident of Resthaven, Sally Ashkins, wrote me, however, with fond memories of how her father, Dr. Ashkins, would frequently wake up early in the morning and go down to the brook to catch trout for his girls' breakfast.

Outings on the Lawn

Resthaven's expansive lawns provide the perfect venue for outdoor gatherings of all kinds. For at least the past 100 years, family reunions, weddings, graduation ceremonies, and huge outings to which the entire community is invited have been accommmodated under the shade of the myriad century-old maples, catalpa, and horse chestnut trees which adorn the grounds. Above is a photo of the brochure for an outing described in the local paper at which the Upton Historical Society enjoyed lunch, music, and guided tours of the Nathan C. Aldrich House and Resthaven Chapel, all provided by Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Ashkins .

"This Place Has A Spirit"

See article from Boston Globe about the Nathan C. Aldrich House and Resthaven Chapel.

www.boston.com/realestate/articles/2007/08/12/this_place_has_a_spirit

Mysteries in the Attic

For the past 80 years, the third floor dorm rooms at Resthaven have been used primarily as storage space. I have often wondered what lies behind the walls of these rooms. Is there a box of letters from some homesick girl, books, or maybe some treasure inadvertantly forgotten and left behind during summer break? Modern blown-in insulation prevents me from exploring the crevices behind the walls, but I am certain that some vestiges from the Seabury era remain.

Above the third floor dormitory lies the attic, and I have precariously climbed up there and peeked around and under the floor boards in search of interesting remnants. So far only an empty box of chocolates and a note introducing the opening of the school in 1912 have turned up. At the far end of the attic, however, is an enormous double cabinet, almost like a file cabinet, lying on its side. I have tried to open the drawers, but do not have the strength to pull them upwards. I hope to eventually convince my husband to climb up to the attic and assist me in opening the drawers to reveal the mysterious contents of the cabinet. Perhaps one day you will see me on Antiques Roadshow or HGTV's "If These Walls Could Talk" with the answer to the puzzle!

The Dam at Spring Brook

One of the outdoor winter pleasures of old Resthaven was ice skating on the pond created by a dam at Spring Brook. One can see the remnants of the old dam, and where it once stood, as well as a nearby dug-out area which once served as the ice house, in which blocks of ice were cut and stored to last through-out the summer. Ice skating on the pond is mentioned as a winter activity in both the 1916 Resthaven School for Girls brochure, as well as an article written about Resthaven in "The Churchman" (the pre-eminent newspaper for the Episcopal Church) in 1924. I'm not sure whether it was Mother Nature or man which caused the eventual collapse of the dam, or when it burst, but the pond no longer exists, and the days of ice skating there remain only in the memories of the those who once shared in the winter-time fun.

The Pet Cemetery

When we first moved to Resthaven, I came upon what appears to be a headstone tucked into the woods just beyond the edge of the lawn between the chapel and the pool area. There is no hint of writing or engraving on the granite stone, and it's somewhat imperfect shape and solitary placement made me wonder if it indeed belonged to someone, or if it was just a rock coincidentally shaped like a grave marker. I finally came upon the answer when I met with Dr. Ashkin's daughter, Sally, last year. Sally told me that her father always had cats and dogs (the dogs often named Bo), and that the area where the "headstone" is located is the Pet Cemetery, where generations of Resthaven's pets were buried. The Pet Cemetery dates back before the Ashkins' ownership of the property, although how far back, we'll probably never know. Nonetheless, it is another unique little part of the history of Resthaven, where beloved pets (including our own- see Kayla in photo) happily roamed the woods and fields over the past 180 years.

National Park Service Features Resthaven for Women's History Month

www.nps.gov/history/nr/feature/wom/2007/aldrich.htm

Weddings at Resthaven

Resthaven's private setting and unique attributes make it a perfect place to host weddings. Where else could you find manicured, level grounds with mature landscaping, a grand historic house with flowing, spacious rooms and a caterer's dream kitchen, the sounds of a babbling brook to provide a soothing backdrop, and most importantly, a private chapel tucked into the corner of the lawn, surrounded by woods and stone walls? The dearth of non-denominational chapels available in the Blackstone Valley make Resthaven even more of a hidden gem, as local Justices of the Peace have told me that they must refer their clients all the way to Sudbury to find another facility with all of these attributes. Indeed, when the Nathan C. Aldrich House and Resthaven Chapel were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, a member of the Massachusetts Historical Commission commented that they believed that this was the only chapel on private residential property in the state. So it comes as no surprise that owners of the property have often used the estate to host weddings throughout the years. I can't imagine a more idyllic spot, particularly for those who prefer a more intimate ceremony, to share such an important day with their closest loved ones.

"Resthaven" After Ashkins Renovation 1942

The Amazing Dr. Ashkins and His Not-So-Magnificent Flying Machine

Of all of the people who have lived at Resthaven, Dr. Joseph Ashkins is tops on my list of those who I wish I had met. A prominent local surgeon, he and his family lived almost a life of celebrity in the small town of Mendon, in which their every vacation, personal achievement, and party held at their estate was documented in the local newspaper. Daring and adventurous, Dr. Ashkins was a man who knew what he wanted, and set out to get it. He purchased Resthaven in 1940 from the Resthaven Trust established after the death of C.R. Seabury in 1929, and took two years to painstakingly renovate the house back into a single family home. I met with his daughter, Sally, who kindly shared photos and memories of her father and their lives at Resthaven.

Dr. Ashkins was an avid pilot who owned several small airplanes throughout his lifetime. His last flight was a solo trip to Clearwater, FL at age 71, with his faithful dog, Bo III by his side. It was December, and as he flew off the coast of New Jersey, both engines on his Cessna-310 quit without warning. When he crash landed into the heavy surf about 250 yards off of the beach, he became trapped inside by the pressure of the mounting water as the plane sank. "I never thought I'd get out", he told his friends. "I wasn't so much afraid to die, but I thought to myself- what a way to go." He managed to get out, but was unable to save his labrador retriever, which was afraid of the water. He then swam the 250 yards to shore, where a local judge who had seen the plane go down was able to assist him.

It was the second time that Dr. Ashkins narrowly escaped death. More than 15 years before, while enroute to his home from Milford Hospital after operating until late at night, he dozed off and flipped his car into a gully, severing an artery. The doctor took off his belt and applied a tourniquet around his leg, and then dragged himself up the embankment to the highway, where a passing motorist found him. Despite Dr. Ashkins brushes with death, he lived well into his 90's, and is now buried near his beloved Resthaven.

A Little School for Little Girls

In 1912, Miss Catherine R. Seabury realized her dream of opening an Episcopal college preparatory boarding school for girls at her country estate, Resthaven, in Mendon, MA. Various artifacts from the era remain to this day, including nine small dormitory rooms on the third floor of the large granite house. Each room features beadboard paneling, 100 year old wallpaper, and a small closet or niche for storage of personal items. Although the dorm rooms have not been used as living space in almost 80 years, and are quite rustic by today's standards, one can feel a presence there, almost as if walking back in time. It is not hard to imagine the girls preparing for their school day, which consisted of a rigorous program meant to encourage the growth of body, mind, and soul.

The girls' day began with breakfast at 7:45 am, followed by Morning Prayer in the chapel, Swedish gymnastics, singing, lessons, and school duties, so that by 3:00, everyone was out of doors. Then some of the girls would drive down to the village to the tiny post office, play games, or walk the fields and woods, collecting whatever was in season, be it blueberries, grapes, or ferns with which to decorate the chapel. The academic schedule included typical subject matter such as Literature, English Composition, History, and Mathematics, as well as Latin and French, Biology or Physics, Music (including weekly forays to the Symphony in Boston, and occasionally to the Opera House), and Bible study. Meals were also a source of instruction, so that the girls would naturally develop a talent for polite and "earnest discussion of worthwhile things". Each day ended with an early supper, study time, and story-telling before bed. According to the brochure, the Resthaven School for Girls charged $1000 for tuition, room and board, and incidentals for the 1916-1917 school year.

Resthaven Chapel and the Tiffany's

In my efforts to document the history of Resthaven, aka the Nathan C. House, I have often stumbled upon some truly interesting connections. I treasure each and every bit of information I dig up, but some bits have obstensibly more WOW factor to the world at large than others. One such piece of history is the relationship of Resthaven Chapel to the iconic Tiffany family.

The Nathan C. Aldrich House was purchased in 1892 by Catherine Regina Seabury, a woman with a prominent family history in the Episcopal Church, whose goal was to create a country retreat for women factory workers from Boston. Her brother-in-law, The Rev. Henry A. Parker and his family, came to Mendon from Cambridge on Sundays to provide religious services. In 1899, Rev. Parker's sons designed and built Resthaven Chapel on the grounds from local field stone. The architect was Gurdon Saltonstall Parker, the eldest son, who was a student at Harvard Scientific School. Alas, Gurdon was called back to Harvard for football camp before the chapel could be completed, and so that first year the celebrants held services with only a roof of branches over their heads. Gurdon eventually went on to become an architect in Manhattan, and married Julia DeForest Tiffany, the daughter of Louis Comfort Tiffany. (A special thank you to George Parker for providing the above photo of C.R. Seabury and the Parker family. Gurdon is the young man sitting quite upright in the front row).

Resthaven: A Storybook Estate with a Past

Our beautiful property, Resthaven, is for sale. This is undoubtedly not the best time to market any property, and a million dollar estate is no exception. Resthaven is not just a house with some land, however; but rather a property with a past. A past which is part of what makes it so special today, because one cannot walk the property without feeling a little piece of those who came before. The Quaker stone masons who meticulously built the house, the teacher who utilized all of her resources to advocate for the education of women, the girls whose lives were transformed by their time spent at Resthaven, and the adventurous physician who always came back to the place he loved most. We have left our mark as well, and are now part of the fabric of the place. My two children grew up there, wandering the lawns and woods, peeking inside the old stone chapel to feel the cool, still air on their skin, playing down by the brook with its little rushing waterfalls and dark, shallow pools. It is a storybook place to grow up; the kind of which I had always dreamed. My greatest hope is that its next caretakers will cherish the property as much as those of us who have shared in its past.