A home with over 200 years of history

CLark Family History

Brewster, Massachusetts is known as a Sea Captains’ town, because so many ships’ masters built beautiful homes along what is now Route 6A.  Merchant Sea Captain Isaiah Clark was descended from Thomas Clark, one of the earliest settlers of the area. Thomas arrived in the new world in 1623 on board the Anne. He acquired large tracts of land in what is now Brewster and passed it on to his son, Andrew, and grandson, Thomas. Most of the earliest houses in this area had Clark families living in them.

A HOME BUILT TO LAST

The house is an original three-quarter Cape-style. It is built mostly of cedar, with some oak, and is of post and beam construction. The ca. 1785 construction date comes from an inspection of the doors, hardware, method of framing and the cut of the rafters. Shingle-clad, it is distinguished from its predecessors by its higher posted form and granite-block foundation. The entry is headed by an elliptical louvered fan rather than the more typical rectangular transom. A second story was added ca. 1850-1870 and is studded construction, not post and beam, which dates the addition. There are five fireplaces and a beehive (baking) oven. During a renovation, an 1842 penny was found under the kitchen. A penny was often placed under a threshold to indicate the date of construction or alteration.

The sense of history is readily apparent. There are still many original features today, such as the wide plank pumpkin pine floors, original fireplaces, and one of the favorite features is where Captain Clark’s son, Jeremiah, scrawled his name on the original attic door, where it is still visible today in the guest room named Jeremiah.

The available atlases show the house remaining in the Clark family at least until the early 1900’s.  In the 1980’s the house was converted into the Inn that can now be enjoyed by guests from around the world.