Man Restores Pilgrim Home from 1665 to its Original Glory
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- Опубликовано: 1 янв 2016
- Doug Towle considers old homes his children. The lifelong bachelor has spent much of his adult life restoring antique buildings, including one of his most recent: a 1665 Pilgrim house that had been in the same Billerica, Massachusetts, family for 12 generations. The house had to be moved, so Towle carefully documented and disassembled the structure, then spent the next three and a half years restoring it.
He dug up some 35,000 bricks that were buried outside of 18th-century homes, knocked on strangers’ doors in search of vintage glass and straightened 100 salvaged handmade rosette nails every night before bed. “I don’t have any children and grandchildren,” says Towle, who’s vice president of marketing at Globe Firefighter Suits. “It’s a legacy thing.”
www.houzz.com/houzztv 
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Learn more about Mr. Towle and this amazing home here: www.houzz.com/houzz-tv/houzz-tv-see-how-early-settlers-lived-in-this-restored-pilgrim-house-stshtvvw-vt~21286426?vm=list
I am a historian and wow. Especially the school house. Those kids can go IN it and SIT in it and really LIVE history. What a gift.
In Ontario Canada, there is a place called Pioneer Village. Google it. You can experience this time period through real-life interactions.
Thank you for your passion to save America’s history as authentically as possible.
You have the same last name as my former pastor.
This video literally made me cry. We just bought a historic 1767 home in NC. We are raising our eight children here and love it! I want so much to restore everything and decorate with period furniture, but money is too tight for that now. I feel so privileged to live in the home of a Revolutionary War soldier whose sacrifices made our freedom possible. I want to honor him and his family in everything I work on in this home. I wish I could have a historian tell me more about him, his house, and his life. Your home is absolutely amazing! You have done a beautiful job restoring it! Thank you for sharing it with all of us. I am so thankful for history lovers who preserve the past.
frugalmomofmany please start a blog!
frugalmomofmany I love that you've restored your home and that your quiver is full and blessed! Id love to see your progress if you don't mind? I belong to a Facebook group named "old barns and farms" where everything is photographed from birds on a post to a snow covered barn &a shared. I can't share anyone thats not mine nor will I be sharing your pics, I just love these videos and that you and your family have restored your own.
God bless you! Julie Sandoval
1 Cor 15:58🌷🌷🌷🌷
😭❤️❤️❤️
1767! How wonderful! I wish you and your family the best in your historical home. Imagine...your kids one day will tell your grandchildren...and your GREAT grandchildren they grew up in a home that was older than this country! Imagine that!
Go to the census..look up the original owners...go to the court house in your county all the records are there...their grandchildren may live in your area...there are ways you can find info on that family...even early news paper many yrs ago...telling what was going on with families daily lives...that was the news back them....even where they sold their live stock or what they farmed in their fields...I know because I did that on my great grandfather who had a farm in SD....it's like a Treasure Hunt
Sir as someone from the old country who restored old houses I take my hat off to you. Your work is obviously a labor of love and it shows, well done.
I admire this man for using his substantial resources to preserve pieces of history for future generations. He sees himself not as an owner of historical items/ property, but as a steward.
What a fascinating man. His articulate manner of speaking was also wonderful as he explained his gem.
Agree. I was attracted by his sentences.
This is all very nostalgic for me. I grew up in New England and have always loved "Saltbox" houses. I was fortunate because my mother also loved period furniture and decorated this way. For a time, I worked for the Wayside Inn on the Boston Post Road in Sudbury, Massassachusetts. I was actually the "school marm" for the one room school house near the Inn. This little red school is the one from the nursery rhyme Mary Had A Little Lamb. I wore skirts to the floor and taught on small slate chalk boards. It's wonderful to see all of this again. It was a much softer, gentler time when people valued each other. Thanks for sharing.
So glad it has remained original. What a masterpiece.
absolutely fantastic job!!! you deserve a preservation award!
Beautiful an absolutely stunning renovation.
Amazing and beautiful! Glad there are people out there who care about our history.
I so admire those with the historical education, the taste and well, all the MONEY it takes to properly care for, properly renovate and preserve these New England treasures!!
Doug, your house is astoundingly magnificent. What a blessing to have someone who loves it so much and has the resources to keep it in museum condition. Obviously you are an Old Soul that lived in that time period. You have too much knowledge, taste and ability to place objects just as they would have been. May God bless you and Pilgrim House.
This is just wonderful what he has done . It's beautiful .
Doug Towle's vision and generosity to share the results with the children and the rest of local and world communities brought me to tears. Thank you Doug Towle and Houzz!
From Okinawa, Japan
Aiko Fujita me too 😭❤️❤️❤️
Doug has restored many homes in town, each more beautiful than the next!
Not many people in the world who have the passion for proper restoration and preservation. Thank you for saving the beautiful architecture of our country’s history⭐️🌞
This home is exquisite and of the highest taste and refinement. What a treasure you have created.
Wow he's practically living in a museum
But what a beautiful, warm and cozy museum it is.
eign he is for sure👍wow
It's is a museum.
Amazing! I was the oldest of eight and lived in old homes all my life. The television show, "The Waltons," that was kind of us! Lol As I became older I still had the love and appreciation for old homes with their, slamming screen doors, creaky floors and trying to find those hidden treasures within! Let's not forget getting up on those cold mornings or going to bed on those hot summer nights with fresh sheets that had just been drying on the line. The fresh smell and loud crickets. Lol Awwww. So, every time I would pass by an old home that I called," passing away." I wanted so very much to bring it back to life. Alas my life had taken me in other directions. In my next life I will follow my heart!
New England was a treasure trove of beautiful old homes and other buildings, and too many have been lost in the last 30 years. So glad this was saved.
Thank you so much, Mr. Towle. This is incredible! A beautiful and amazing piece of history.
Doug Towles work is well known and rightly so in Gilmanton, NH. He is an artist.
"The beauty of construction" I love that about homes, but today, that's just not the case. The school house!!! Oh my Lord, are you kidding me? You are in paradise
It is absolutely georgous!! Takes us back in time when homes had character, wood was cherished and not painted over. So so fantastically done!!❤
his Old is GOLD - simply Marvellous!!!
Wow! Thank you so much for preserving a little bit of Americana! Your love for it is evident! Just stunning! Everything is pristine!
Gorgeous.
The thickness of the walls. The exposed beams. The warmth and history is breathtaking.
I love old houses, i’m living in a 1894 house in Detroit. I wish I could find more history on it.
It seems we don't gain our wisdom until we are older. But I love the great houses of our early American settlers. I wish I could afford to refurbish one.
Doug Towle thank you for your efforts in preserving a part of our nation's history.
Coming from a family that created some of these structures and more in England, and as a timber framer myself, I thank you for your devotion, consideration, and artistry.
I agree - absolutely brilliant job! I live in a half-timbered house that was built in the early 1400’s, in a well preserved medieval village (close to Lavenham, Suffolk), in England. Everyday I think to myself just how lucky I am to be surrounded by such history! I truly hope more historical architecture, both in America, England and the rest of the world; can be saved like the ones showcased in this video.
Truly, a little piece of heaven on Earth.
I love the way he shares the one room school house with the local students. What a wonderful man he is!
God bless Doug Towle with good health and a long life so he can continue the good work he's doing restoring what are truly great works of art.
love your kitchen. most people ruin a restoration by a to modern kitchen. this is a good mix.the home is magnificent .old is best.
Even the nails were fantastic, a piece of art 😍
How wonderful, and to still be in such a beautiful setting!
I enjoyed this piece of history and beauty very much, thankyou.
Good Wishes from New Zealand
My 12th Grandmother back was on the Mayflower. I could live in this without changing a thing. Simply beautiful!
That house feels and looks as though its hugging the inhabitants! Normally, I'm not a fan of all that wood but something about the color of the wood is lovely.
Regina Johnson do you prefer plastic?
The patina of old wood is something that science is unable to replicate. Just Beautiful.
Beautiful, historical, livable. The trifecta. Congratulations and thank you!
Watching this video , I was amazed at how beautiful and attention too detail this gentleman did this gorgeous restoration . Great job, and Thank you for sharing this with the world .
Thank you & bless you, Mr. Towle.
What a lovely man! Such insight and kindness towards those who came before him.
Wow! Such beauty. What this man has done is truly great. His appreciation is awe-inspiring.
Just a beautiful restoration...thank you for taking us back in time with so much love and respect.
This is magnificent! The property is clearly a labor of love that fills me with a deep appreciation for all that Mr. Towle has invested into it. Mr. Towle is a hero, and I hope he has somehow tried to ensure that this legacy project will never fall into ruin.
I love people with this much love of history. Especially when they have the drive and the funds to do a restoration like this. Thank you Mr. Towle.
I think that this is one of the best i've seen...a true appreciation of history. I too have inherited a old home & the older i get the more appreciative i am of granpa passing it on to me. Hearing his appreciation of his parents now...true wisdom has prevailed!! Well done sir, teach the young ones
Fantastic, stunning home. I admire you for all the work you did to restore the buildings.
Love what you’ve done and your obvious love for the house and buildings. Irreplaceable.
It was stunning. To live in a space of so much history, nostalgia and warmth must be peaceful. I envy Mr. Towle his vision and his accomplishment. Thank you for sharing.
special buildings.. I was about to call BS when I saw the perfect shaping, but then he explained the later wood used as the house needed things. I was born in winchester, ma. pilgrim/colonial history was very important. My grandma was acadian, massachussetts was the "new" place to go... a very long time ago. Those old protected buildings are everywhere. I can still here complains over a real 2x4 and what industry did to them.. older generation stuff. I am in a town of 700 in maine where the 1 room school house is not only still standing, they turned it onto the town hall..chalkboards still in place. I live next to the church as old as maine (early 1800s).
He has a lot of respect and love for the house. Much respect for him
I just love it!! Congratulations for your hard work on the restaurations and preserving how the way it was! Everything are absolutely beautiful!!
I live in England and would love to see all these buildings, especially the school rooms, it is all wonderful. I have a particular love of American folk art too, and the simplistic furniture of the Shaker style.
This is lovely. I appreciate that you let the kids come see the school and land. It's beautiful.
Oh my gosh what I wouldn't do to be able to live in a historic home like that, Beautiful!!! And thank you so much for preserving it.
"Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
'Till it's gone" Joni Mitchell
Absolutely Beautiful! Thank you for saving this beauty and for sharing with us
The oldtimers had the time to do it right with the quality woodwork.They were not on a schedule. Winter months were devoted to interior work. This house shows their talent
I appreciate all the preservation now. I grew up in West Newbury and now live outside of Jerusalem. Thank you for sharing this project.
Wow! What a true gem & work of art.
My good man nothing you do to preserve history is crazy. I’m referring to the 100 nails. I just love it !!!
If we don’t preserve history we will lose it forever; thank you so much for keeping these American gems preserved and safe for so many generations to come.
I usually love modern homes but honestly can say I would happily live here.
Shalom! Thank you for bring the old property back to beauty and life. Blessings to you and yours!
I wonder how that home survived that long. Did anyone live in it or did it just sit all these years? My great grandparents house eventually just collapsed. It is true they don’t make things the way they used to.
Thank you for sharing. It took my breath away and brought such joy. I'm bookmarking so that I can come back and enjoy over and over.
I am from Massachusetts and the work you have done to restore this old home and buildings is wonderful. What a privilege to live in such a history rich home. Thanks for caring for our past and allowing it to become part of our future.
That is the most beautiful American home and property I have ever seen. Thank you for the countless decision that had to be made to preserve the home and make it livable by todays standard. A joy to behold!
Breathe taking.... both that of its land, it’s history as well as the love, care and passion that shines in its restoration through your spirit..... watching for the second time. I so enjoy when the old can just heighten my senses. Thank you for sharing, you are amazing.
God bless this great man for his labor of love in saving precious American history and heritage!!
What a timeless design.
That's a dream for an old soul like me. Beautiful area, house, and antiques. It must be so nice on a day with snow softly falling.
Someone with some funds would invest in a yacht or super car not this man. This man is investing in preserving history and allowing young people an opportunity to experience history in person. We need more people like this man, Bravo!
What a blessing! Thank you for restoring and offering real glimpses of the past for future generations to appreciate!
That's so beautiful!
A Gem of a house. So glad that there are people like you!
Beautiful details in your home and it’s wonderful to see someone loving & living his joy! Thank you for sharing.
I have so enjoyed seeing what you have done here. The work, the detail, the warmth of these building is just breathtaking. Thank you for sharing.
What a wonderful commentary, how this gentleman evolved into a natural historic preservationist. Delightful and thank you.
Absolutely beautiful. I love that you let the school children into your one room school house. ❤️
To appreciate what you had as a child…. So often we forget just how hard our parents, or PARENT worked for it… the sacrifices they made for us, the things they never were able to do, but instead chose to provide for us. I too am VERY great full for my childhood. Thank you for reminding me of that.
Thank you for loving the old days. Your home is absolutely breathtaking. What an awesome heart and soul you have, sir
As a building contractor for 30+ years, I'm especially awed by your attention to detail and clear obsession for "your" old house. Don't know if you worked on any the restoration yourself, but what a privilege it must have been.
I just love that you have preserved some of our history and the way people lived back then. I always am so sad to see an old house torn down rather then being restored. New homes have no character now a days. So thank you 😊
How GORGEOUS! I would give ANYTHING to have a home like this. Much admiration for your work!
This is amazing. What a great thing he has done.
All of the buildings and the property are absolutely gorgeous! The attention and love put into each and every object, including the nails, is astounding. Love the one-room schoolhouse. I love old homes, old buildings, and old objects. They have stories to tell. And they have survived for so many years, centuries even, only because they were loved and cared for. ❤️
You are amazing!! I hope your local government honors you gratefully, and the whole nation for that matter! Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️ My Dad’s side of my family came here to the U.S. in 1771, and settled in Wisconsin, so seeing your restoration helps me have some idea perhaps, of what they saw.
Thank you Doug! I grew up in a 1750's Colonial in CT, and could never understand why my friends thought we were rich! Ha! If they only knew, and to us it was just our house. Many wonderful memories.
So beautiful! You did a fantastic job. Love that school children can visit the one room school house. So nice of you to allow them to come.
I clicked out of curiosity thinking this video has nothing to do with me, and then saw the square nails and the neighbors cutting down trees to open the view and suddenly I was relating. I pulled a ton of those square nails out of a summer house from the 1870's and saved them and the neighbors clear cut their woods right next to me. Great job, sir.
I can see his is a man of some wealth, I am glad he is investing it in history.
I'm speechless. This home and property are astounding.
Magnificent! Thank you for your passionate effort to preserve our history. Bravo!
WOW incredible work. My great grandmother was Dildie Frisbie. Edward Frisbie arrived to America around 1620! He was 14 and his parents died at sea. A lot of those descendants lived in and around Branford, CT. This is so fun to see how they maybe lived.
Wow!! I'm amazed at your work!! Thank you for saving a small part of our history!! May the Lord bless you and keep you in all you do!
Mr. Towle, I hope this collection can stay together. This should be a museum one day or even now. You have a lovely narrator voice that could be part of the tour.