Silas Wood House, Middleboro

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,12-MIDBO,10-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

One of the few remaining examples of a gambrel roofed residence, and early farm house, in Middleborough. Description: Facing southeast, Silas Wood's frame house terminates in a gambrel roof. Five bays across, the south facade's central bay contains the entrance door. This bay is emphasized visually by the chimney jutting upward through the rooftop. The gable ends are broad and punctuated by two large windows and three smaller lights. The small windows are two-over-two sash; they appear on each side of the large window group and one appears centered above the two larger windows. The exterior wall fabric is clapboard. Wings have been added to the side (southwest) and rear (northwest) elevations. Despite a date on the chimney, construction techniques belie an earlier age.

The depth of the gable ends, the center chimney (location outweighing date here), gable end fenestration, low first story, and stone foundation imply an early eighteenth-century date. History: Built by Middleborough's only shopkeeper, Silas Wood, this structure represents the eighteenth-century farmsteads along the Nemasket River, Silas Wood left the house to his grand-son, Abie! Wood, who followed Silas into the retail business. Abiel opened the first store on Center Street with William S. Andrews. This man married Maria A. Wood; the Andrews eventually owned the house.