2 CLEASBY LANE
050-010
HD Map# 41
Overview of Historic District and Source of following text.
41. Emerson House, 2 Cleasby Lane, 1744 with later additions. Contributing building.
The earliest extant building in the district, the Emerson House is also the only building currently individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places [listed as The Meeting House on 3/11/82]. Located at the corner of Monument Square and Cleasby Lane, the two-story, clapboarded house displays an L-shaped plan with the original house comprising the portion facing the lane. The ell facing the Square was apparently added in the late 18th or early 19th century. The original facade faces south and measures five bays across with the center entrance containing a modern six-panel door capped by a clear transom and sheltered by a c.1880 hip roofed door hood supported by sunburst brackets with pendants. The east elevation displays a saltbox profile and the rear roof line slopes uniformly down to the first floor. The windows contain 6/6 sash.
The placement of the windows on the west elevation, facing Monument Square, is somewhat asymmetrical. The two bays of openings to the south were part of the original house while the windows to the north correspond to the later addition. The offcenter entrance was originally a secondary entrance for the original house. The six-panel door is capped by a three-light transom with a fluted surround with cornerblocks. Today it is fronted by a 20th century single-story porch a single bay wide, supported by plain posts. With the exception of the 20th century bowed display windows flanking the entrance, the windows contain 6/6 sash. To the east of the original house a single-story former shed connects to slightly taller single story section on a rubble foundation. All of the fenestration on these two wings is modern and includes 6/6 sash, a garage door and 3 x 3 hinged window.
This building was built on part of the original forty acres of land which was given to Rev. Daniel Emerson when he was called to be the first pastor of the Hollis Church. Initially Rev. Emerson built a log cabin here but that building burnt just as it was completed, in April 1744. A new house was constructed that summer to which he brought his bridge whom he married in November 1744. Over the next 21 years thirteen children were born to the Emersons in this house. Rev. Emerson died in 1801 at the age of 81 while Hannah died in 1812 at the age of 90. The house was next occupied by Daniel Emerson, Jr. who moved into the house in 1796 and remained here until his death in 1820. The house was later owned by Abraham Temple Hardy who sold the property in 1841. By the time of the 1858 County map, the property was owned by Alpheus Rideout. It remained in the Rideout family for many years. Miss Rideout is shown as the owner on the 1892 map. The Rideout Family rented out rooms.
When Mrs. Rideout died, she left the property to her niece, Mrs. Levi Barker. The house changed hands many times in the 20th century. Albert Hildreth bought the property in 1910 and in 1917 William Worcester bought the house and store, selling it a few years later to Dr. G. S. Hazard and Rev. C.F. Hill Crathern. In 1953 the property was sold by Harriet Hazard’s heirs to Daniel Brocklebank. It was bought by Denton Lates in 1956, in 1957 by Paul and Virginia Sipe, in 1960 by Frank and Joan Blanchett and in 1962 by Eugene and Grace Beal. William and Marilyn Wehrle purchased the property in 1980.