The John Ward House c. 1684
Owned by PEM, and used for house tours.

The John Ward House, a historic example of First Period architecture, is the first such house in the United States to be saved and fastidiously renovated by a museum. The effort commenced in 1910. George Francis Dow, credited with planning and executing this task, desired to provide visitors with an all-encompassing cultural experience. The interior was carefully restored and furnished. Upon entry it is impossible to ignore the realities of a life lived in the late 1600s on a frugal budget. Door frames and ceilings are exceedingly low in order to keep the heat down where the inhabitants can benefit from it. Beds are small and stored during the day against the wall. Mattresses are made of straw and rest on ropes, which slacken and sag with use. The fireplace is wide to accommodate a number of simultaneous fires for cooking and baking. Fire was the second most frequent cause of death in those days, in large part due to the fact that women's big skirts caught fire and ignited in a flash.

Sept 2011, Photo 21

Kitchen of Ward House

Sept 2011, Photo 22

John Ward House
Part of Peabody Essex Museum

July 2001, Photo ward1