The "Little Red House"
Above: Summer 1959. Dearborn Road is still a dirt road and the grass is growing on Chester Turnpike. Dutch elm disease kills all the elms. The barn was destroyed by arson in 1969.
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2019 - How the old Cooper’s shop looks today. The entire house was refurbished in 2000. Out with the indoor outhouse—in with the plumbing. A new roof line and round window in the loft were added.
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The “Little Red House, situated on the five corners (intersections of Dearborn, Coleman, and the Chester Turnpike), was originally built as a cooper’s shop, making barrels. It catered to the farmers who took their produce to markets in Haverhill, Methuen and Boston, MA. Two hundred years ago, barrels were as essential to commerce as the cardboard box is today.
In 1852, William A. Pingrey and Hannah (Colman) Pingrey purchased the property. They made several additions to the house and built the barn. Their only daughter, Rosa, married Frank Forsaith who moved in with them. Two boys and 12 years later, the Forsaiths purchased the old Clay’s Tavern and moved across Dearborn Road.
After William Pingrey died in 1909, the “Little Red House” sat empty until his grandson Carl and his wife Grace Forsaith retired. They turned it into a summer guest house and moved into the old tavern. Stephen Lafay and Debbie Asquith now live in the tavern.
In 1852, William A. Pingrey and Hannah (Colman) Pingrey purchased the property. They made several additions to the house and built the barn. Their only daughter, Rosa, married Frank Forsaith who moved in with them. Two boys and 12 years later, the Forsaiths purchased the old Clay’s Tavern and moved across Dearborn Road.
After William Pingrey died in 1909, the “Little Red House” sat empty until his grandson Carl and his wife Grace Forsaith retired. They turned it into a summer guest house and moved into the old tavern. Stephen Lafay and Debbie Asquith now live in the tavern.
Left: The little red house in the winter of 1968/1969.
The snow is 10’ to the eaves.
On January 1, 1969, there is enough snow for snowmobiles to run over 5’ blueberry bushes and not damage them! A late February storm dropped 50” of snow.
The snow is 10’ to the eaves.
On January 1, 1969, there is enough snow for snowmobiles to run over 5’ blueberry bushes and not damage them! A late February storm dropped 50” of snow.