First Minister's House
About this property
The First Minister's House is a historic house at 186 Elm Street in Gardner, Massachusetts. The house was built in 1792 and served as the church parsonage for Rev. Jonathan Osgood, pastor of Gardner's First Congregational church and also a physician. It is one of Gardner's finest examples of late Georgian architecture. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and included in the Gardner Uptown Historic District in 1999. The First Minister's House stands in a residential area east of downtown Gardner, on the east side of Elm Street at its junction with Bond Street. It is a 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure, with a hip roof, two interior chimneys, and a clapboarded exterior. The main facade is five bays wide, with windows arranged symmetrically about the center entrance. The building corners are finished in wooden trim that resembles quoining, and the main eave is lined with modillion blocks. The first floor windows are topped by a corniced entablature also adorned with blocks. The entry has a four-light rectangular transom window set under a half-round arch, and is flanked by pilasters rising to a gabled pediment. A 20th-century ell and garage extend to the rear of the building. The interior retains a number of original finishes, including wide floorboards and fireplace mantels. The house was built in 1792 for Jonathan Osgood, the first settled minister of Gardner's First Congregational Church. Architecturally, it is a late example of Georgian design, with a number of elements in its appearance that are from the then-popular Federal style. Its second owner was Deacon Lawrence, and it was reported to be a stop on the Underground Railroad during his ownership. Suffragist and abolitionist, Lucy Stone frequently visited the house because it was home to her sister, Sarah Lawrence. National Register of Historic Places listings in Worcester County, Massachusetts
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was First Minister's House listed on the National Register?
First Minister's House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 14, 1979.
What type of historic resource is First Minister's House?
First Minister's House is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for First Minister's House?
The period of significance for First Minister's House is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near First Minister's House?
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