Much of this old furniture was brought from over the seas about 1800, at a time when colonial homes were in vogue. Others came with the earliest settlers. These pieces, however, are rare, for the ships of that day had but limited capacity, fitted to bring only the bare necessities to furnish a home. Many of them were rare and unusual bits, and connected with them are stories of the past, which carry us back to the early struggles for existence in an untried land.
Plate LVII.—The Savory House, Groveland, Mass.
The Peter Parker, or Savory house was built early in the eighteenth century. It is situated just back from the street, surrounded by well-laid-out grounds and has preserved intact all its original characteristics.
The keynote in its construction is a dignified solidity. It represents an example of careful thought that gives to it an air of quiet elegance which is rarely seen, even in houses of this same type. It is to be numbered among the really few genuine old dwellings which date back to pre-Revolutionary days,—a veritable old home, combining in construction unusual architectural features.
The house differs much from the square houses of colonial time. It has a wing-like projection at one side and was designed with two front doors. This is a departure from the old-time custom of a central porch and is not without significance, for each door has its own special use.
Plate LVIII.—Porch and Gateway, Savory House.