John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace, Massachusetts, United States

5Kathy K 5:00 PM Oct 1, 2017

Take a minute and go back in time
I was born in Haverhill, MA and lived within walking distance of John Greenleaf Whittier’s birthplace. I finally made time to visit and Boy was I glad I did. The home is exceptionally well cared for. I enjoyed getting to see some of the artifacts used by Whittier. But the best part for me was going outside and walking around the grounds. I’m not a big poetry fan, but I do like several of Whittiers’ work. I found the babbling brook which was the centerpiece of one of my favorite poems. I just stood there taking in the sounds and surroundings and my mind went back in time to when Whittier roamed these grounds himself and was inspired. It was magical. If you like history I strongly recommend a visit. Well worth the time!

4Maurene_K 5:00 PM May 25, 2015

POET’S BIRTHPLACE AUTHENTICALLY PRESERVED
The John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace is not to be confused with the nearby John Greenleaf Whittier Home & Museum in Amesbury where he lived as an adult. Our group of ten organized a daytrip to Haverhill. We visited John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace in the morning, had lunch at The Barking Dog Ale House, and then visited Buttonwoods Museum and Winnekenni Park & Castle in the afternoon. Having studied American literature, I was already of fan of Whittier’s poetry. I’d visited here several years ago. It was worth a second visit. Admissions are: $5.00 - Adults $3.00 - Students 13+ and Seniors 62+ Free - Children 0 - 12 The museum is seasonal. It is open from late April to late October. Gus Reusch, the curator, conducted our tour. He was very knowledgeable. He had many entertaining stories to go along with the history. Our group thoroughly enjoyed the visit with him which lasted about 2½ hours. We reluctantly said goodbye due to luncheon reservations. This was the Whittier family homestead beginning in 1688 with construction of the first part of the present-day structure. It is great example of an old New England farm. It is essentially the same, including original furniture, as when John Greenleaf Whittier, a Quaker and major leader in the abolitionist movement, lived there from 1807 to 1836. So, one gets an accurate picture of the home during his residence here. He was born on December 17, 1807 in the southwest parlor. Five generations of Whittiers lived there. This is the setting of “Snow-Bound: A Winter Idyl” which is Whittier’s most famous poem. It was published in 1866. Many places on the property were subjects of poems such as “Fernside Brook.” Fernside Brook still flows today. In later life, a lot of his poetry was on the subject of abolishing slavery. He was a contemporary of and frequent visitor to both author Sarah Orne Jewett of South Berwick, Maine and author/poet Celia Laighton Thaxter of Portsmouth and Appledore Island in the Isles of Shoals in New Hampshire. Former Haverhill Mayor James H. Carleton purchased the property and donated it to the Haverhill Whittier Club. In 1893, the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace opened as a museum. My favorite place in the house was the area in front of the hearth with the two rocking chairs. I could visualize Whittier sitting in one and his uncle in the other while enjoying the warmth and coziness in front of the fire while the snowstorm raged outside just feet away. My second favorite place was the dining room that had the family cradle and the red riding hood of his cousin’s adopted daughter Phoebe. The hooded cape was the subject of his poem “Red Riding-Hood.” The pantry is very photogenic little nook. This is a nice historic home that has been preserved accurately to the period it represents. This attraction is not wheelchair accessible. The grounds are worth a stroll. Pick up a brochure of the Freeman Memorial Trail which has thirteen marked stations that are cited in Whittier's poetry and prose. It is a guide to walking in Whittier's footsteps. We'll be back for this most likely in the fall. I recommend a visit to the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace on a trip to the Haverhill/Amesbury area. If you found this review helpful, kindly click YES below.