Quincy, Mass. Historical and Architectural Survey

135 Adams Street

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Adams House, or “Peacefield,” as John Adams called it, was the 1787 -1826 residence of John Adams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence for Massachusetts, second President of the United States, lawyer, politician, diplomat, and the first Vice-President of the United States. The house also stands as a living memorial to four generations of one family, a family that played a foremost part in shaping the destiny of America.

The oldest part of the house (now the west, or left-hand, half of the front section of the house) was built in 1730-31 by Major Leonard Vassell, a wealthy West Indian planter. John Adams, while still minister to Great Britain, bought this Georgian house in September, 1787, and on his return to the United States in 1788, made his home in this house. He enlarged the house in 1788 and 1800. John Quincy Adams added to the house in 1836 and Charles Francis Adams made more additions in 1869.

The Adams family resided in this house until 1927 and the property became a National Historic Site in 1946.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:
As built in 1730-31, the original house was a typical two-and-one-half story, white clapboarded, gambrel-roofed frame residence and of Georgian design. There were two rooms separated by a stair hall on the second floor, and 3 smaller chambers in the dormered attic. The original house now comprises the western or left-hand front section of the existing house.

In 1788 the two-and –a half story frame kitchen and servants’ quarters, originally separate from the main house, were apparently attached to the rear northwest corner of the main house. In 1800, the final year of his term as the second President of the United States, John Adams doubled the size of the original house by adding a large two-and-a-half story frame L-shaped ell to the east (or right hand) end of the residence. Constructed in the same Georgian style as the original house, the first floor of the new ell contained a second entry hall staircase, and the “Long Room” to the east of the hall. The new large second-floor room above became John Adams’ study and library.

The house was further enlarged in the 19th century: in 1836 John Quincy Adams added the passage along the north or rear side of the main house that connects the two rear service ells, and in 1869, Charles Francis Adams added 30 feet to the north end of the kitchen ell to provide additional quarters for servants.

In excellent condition, the house is open to visitors and is furnished with original Adams furniture.

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