Homes of Monadnock: 59 Pine Street (Part II)
Presented by Sam Abbott Sells Homes
Unless otherwise specified, photography by Ashley Wadleigh
Last week we learned some of the history, details, and features of the illustrious 59 Pine Street. Now, let’s have a quick look at the other folks (and institutions) that have occupied this residence since approximately 1815:
Jonas Loring (original owner)
John Farnum
Philip Alexander
William Spofford
David Barker
Charles Franklin Pierce
(not the president of the United States, but coincidental no less because of the later acquisition of 59 Pine by Franklin Pierce College)
Dora N. Spalding
Horace D. Gilbert
Richard C. Morse
George E. Grimshaw and Irene S. Gudewicz
Franklin Pierce College
Patrick and Melissa Thompson
Joseph J. Rusin III and Kara L. Rusin
It’s been home to some of Peterborough’s greatest benefactors, not least of which was the late George Grimshaw. Grimshaw, taking possession of the property in 1975 and owning it until his death in 1995, took up the hobbies of woodworking and cabinetmaking in his then-retirement. After constructing the three-car garage seen today, he fashioned a woodworking shop in its lower level, proceeding to build the kitchen cabinetry and to put his own touches on woodwork throughout the rest of the home.
The wood paneling of the stairwell, although rumored to be his work as well, was more likely wood taken from the Davidson house atop Old Town Farm Road, which was torn down about 1890 and was featured in a watercolor painting by the late Charles Franklin Pierce. Pierce owned 59 Pine Street during the period of 1882 – 1911. Here is a letter from the Historical Society to Mrs. Morse explaining that they were informed that some of the wood paneling from the Davidson house had been installed in 59 Pine:
Pierce was a native of Peterborough who moved to Boston at the age of 20 to study painting for four years, then, venturing to Europe, studied for an additional two. Soon after marrying Luena Wilder (also of Peterborough) they made the decision to purchase 59 Pine in November of 1882. The pair spent summers in town while otherwise living in Boston. The timing of their purchase aligning with the tear-down of the Davidson house in 1890 and Pierce’s seeming appreciation of it (having painted it) suggests that the wood paneling may have been an upgrade installed by him.
Adding to the stewards of the locally renowned property, Dora Spalding, who took possession in July 1911 after purchasing from Charles Franklin Pierce, was another who was involved with the town and who made a strong impression on the property. Spalding was one of the founders of the Monadnock Garden Club, served on the executive committee of the local chapter of the American Red Cross, and was involved with the Civic Federation, which supported troops during World War I. Spalding was responsible not only for the installation of the garden, but also for the addition on the north side of the original house, which provided the modern kitchen on the first floor and service quarters on the second. Additionally, she changed the roofline immensely by lowering it, removing the front-centered eyebrow dormer and replacing it all with the widow’s walk seen today. The ornate columned portico was also her work, dressing up what was then a simple covered front entrance:
Photo from NNEREN MLS
Most notably, Dora Spalding was responsible for the employ of the then-world-famed landscape architect, Fletcher Steele. Steele’s design philosophy has been said to have been driven by two main themes: that landscape architecture was an art form like painting or music, and that gardens were for pleasure.
One hopes Dora had her pleasure in the gardens. Her desire for a sundry rose garden is evident in the receipts for rose varieties below:
And a photo of Dora Spalding’s rose garden:
While the plantings were numerous yet ephemeral, much of the design work that took place by Fletcher Steele is still evident today in both the wrought iron railings as well as the hardscaped stonework.
This is a photo of the stone steps and iron railing leading out of the lawn:
And one of the Flagstone Terrace with steps leading down to the lawn:
Of a large sculpture atop the steps:
Of a view of the yard:
Of the path through the yard:
Of a peacock statue enjoying the stone wall:
Of a view of the wall (but where’s the mermaid?)
There she is!
What else we got, Fletch?
Here’s a photo of Spalding’s stone terrace with a built-in bench:
She is a beauty!
The Stewards of Today
Sam Abbott Sells Homes had the privilege of spending a considerable amount of time with Kara and Joe Rusin over the course of about a year while searching for their home. They and their children, Khloe and Nikolas, explored the turbulent terrain of the Monadnock Region’s real estate market with Sam Abbott Sells Homes until finally settling on the one and only 59 Pine Street.
The family relocated to Peterborough after spending several years in Scotland. Joe’s work has taken him from place to place and continues to, but no longer in terms of residences. The family is grateful to have not only found such a lovely home, but to have found one in such a lovely town. But Kara’s dream wasn’t merely to find a beautiful brick house with a view – it was much more interesting.
The Rusins were planning to return to Texas after departing Scotland, but after searching and not finding much of interest, they decided to cut the trip short and have a look around New Hampshire. Joe always had his eye on New Hampshire as a place to retire, but Kara knew little of the state. It was pictures of the Keene Pumpkin Festival that led her to agree to the visit. They quickly found a house to rent, allowing them to search for a house to purchase. But why Peterborough? Why did Kara fall in love with this town out of all the towns in the area? In the state?
Enter Gilmore Girls
One of Kara’s favorite TV shows is Gilmore Girls. Before she was in omina paratus – or, at least, ready to move to Peterborough – she knew was that if they were going to New England, she wanted to find a town not unlike Stars Hollow, the quaint (and fictitious) New England town in Gilmore Girls, characterized by a sense of warmth from its people to its scenery.
In the journey of discovering the rentable home of choice, Kara knew she’d found her Stars Hollow in Peterborough – a place she’d been longing to discover, where she could put down roots and finally make home. She told me she remembered the first time taking the turn into downtown Peterborough and thinking, “Oh, my gosh! This… is Stars Hollow!”
As Kara herself said, “Like Stars Hollow, Peterborough is a town where most can and do walk everywhere, where it’s common you’ll run into your neighbors, and where you can be on a first-name basis with the local shops… It’s Magical!”
How’s that for a happy ending?
Although it is but a beginning! The Rusins have thus far enjoyed Peterborough and the lovely home that suits them so well.
And like the Thompson family – who occupied the residence prior to the Rusins for nearly twenty years, producing children known and loved by Sam Abbott Sells Homes and his contemporaries – the Rusins are here to stay, playing Candyship Battleland and raising their children in this town which crowns the Monadnock Region – just like those chimneys and that locally distinguishing widow’s walk crown the façade of 59 Pine, baby!
They plan to live in it and care for it the way that all the many people of the past have cared for it. They want to preserve its story, and to continue to share it with the community it’s so conspicuously set in the center of.
Yet another chapter of stewardship is underway in the long story of this beautiful home.
Oy, with the poodles already!
