Restoration of the Roof of the Farm Building at WB

The Wentworth Brown house is a classic example of the New England connected farm buildings, also known as “Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn.” The family lived in the big house. Grandparents lived in the little house. Implements and tools were stored in the back house. Animals lived in the barn. Since the buildings are connected, the farmer and other members of the family could get to the barn without going outside, often from both the ground floor and the first floor. This was very welcome during the cold, dark and long New England winters.

I play a game with visiting children. Driving around the Upper Valley, we look at the houses in New Hampshire and Vermont, and call out: “Big house, barn” or “Big house, little house, barn.” The jackpot winner is the first person who sees one connected building with all four elements.

The divided common at Haverhill Corner is stunning. Whether you approach it on foot, bicycle or vehicle, you admire the architecture of the individual buildings and homes, as well as the style and symmetry of the whole complex. The connected farm buildings of Wentworth Brown House – the big house, little house, back house and barn – grace the southern quadrant of the common. They are an anchor.

Haverhill Heritage is committed to the preservation of the building and its use for a variety of arts, cultural, community, educational and historic events. We would like to raise $5,000 towards revitalizing the roof of each of the connected farm buildings. This will enable us to begin hosting music performances in 2027.

Please support us in celebrating this structure. Thank you.

Geoffrey Mazullo, Vice President, Haverhill Heritage.