WAYSIDE
Wayside, the house of authors in Concord, Massachusetts, had Louisa May
Alcott, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Harriett Lathrop as residents.
The first deed in 1686 was granted to our ancestor Nathaniel Ball
on his upcoming marriage. The original portion of the house was
probably built shortly after that. The first deed that sited a
house on the property wasn't until 1717, but it is believed the house
was built before then. The original house was a typical Colonial
2-story house with 2 rooms per floor & a central chimney.
During the American Revolution the house was owned & lived in
by Samuel Whitney, Muster Master Minuteman of Concord, Massachusetts.
British troops passed by the house on their way to
the Concord North Bridge.
The house is mostly known for the famous American authors who lived there. Louisa May Alcott was well-known for her book, LITTLE WOMEN. Many of the adventures of the Alcott girls living in the house are written into LITTLE WOMEN.
The next well-known author living in Wayside was Nathaniel Hawthorne well known for his book, THE SCARLET LETTER. He is the one responsible for naming the house "The Wayside".
Harriett Lothrop & her husband Daniel, who was a Boston publisher, also lived in the house. Harriett wrote THE FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS and other children's books under the pen name of Margaret Sidney. Their daughter, Margaret, was the last of the private owners of "The Wayside".
In 1963 the house was designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1965 it became a part of the Minute Man National Historic Park and the first literary site acquired by the National Park Service. For more information about the house and its inhabitants visit their website at http://www.nps.gov/mima/wayside/index1.htm
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The house is mostly known for the famous American authors who lived there. Louisa May Alcott was well-known for her book, LITTLE WOMEN. Many of the adventures of the Alcott girls living in the house are written into LITTLE WOMEN.
The next well-known author living in Wayside was Nathaniel Hawthorne well known for his book, THE SCARLET LETTER. He is the one responsible for naming the house "The Wayside".
Harriett Lothrop & her husband Daniel, who was a Boston publisher, also lived in the house. Harriett wrote THE FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS and other children's books under the pen name of Margaret Sidney. Their daughter, Margaret, was the last of the private owners of "The Wayside".
In 1963 the house was designated a National Historic Landmark. In 1965 it became a part of the Minute Man National Historic Park and the first literary site acquired by the National Park Service. For more information about the house and its inhabitants visit their website at http://www.nps.gov/mima/wayside/index1.htm
Return to Interesting Ancestors