MARBLEHEAD — A quarter of a millennium ago, a colonial Georgian home was built in Marblehead by American craftsmen for the wealthiest man in Massachusetts.
The mansion, now owned by The Marblehead Museum, is one of the most well-preserved and largest colonial homes still in existence in New England.
It was built for Col. Jeremiah Lee, a merchant and ship owner who transported cod fish that was dried and salted in Marblehead to the West Indies, Spain, England, and ports around the Atlantic Ocean with the dozen vessels he owned.
Lee returned to Marblehead with wine, fruit, and textiles to sell, and was active in town government and served as Colonel of Marblehead’s town militia for 25 years. He was suspected to have smuggled weapons and ammunition in preparation of a conflict between England and the colonies in 1775.
His mansion was built in 1768, when Lee was the wealthiest merchant and shipowner in Massachusetts. He ensured anyone who walked through the front door knew of his wealth, to make a statement about his importance in the community, said Lauren McCormack, executive director of the Marblehead Museum.
When visitors entered the home, they were greeted with in an expansive front hall with a soaring staircase flanked by towering portraits of Lee and his wife Martha Swett, created by John Singleton Copley. The renowned artist was famous for painting important figures in colonial New England, including Samuel Adams, John Hancock, John Quincy Adams, and Paul Revere.
“There’s a sense of grandeur,” said McCormack. “It was meant to impress. It was one of the largest, if not the largest house built in New England during the colonial period.”
The towering ceilings sent the message that Lee had the money to heat the home, and the intricate rail posts were built to resemble those in books many people wouldn’t have access to, said McCormack.
The home has three floors, a basement, and a cupula with 360 degree views of Marblehead and it’s harbor.
The Lees were the only family to call the mansion home
The Lees moved into the 18-room home 250 years ago, and were the only family to ever call the expansive mansion home, which allowed it be preserved in it’s nearly original state.
Today, the walls are still lined with the only surviving 18th century wallpapers handpainted in England, many of the original architectural elements remain intact, and chairs that George Washington likely sat in during his visit to Lee’s widow proudly stand within the walls.
Lee lived in the home with his family for seven years. In April 1775, he met with John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and fellow Marbleheaders at a tavern that was disturbed by British Regulars marching toward Lexington. The men took shelter in a corn field and Lee caught a fever and died three weeks later.
His wife and six children remained in the home until the time of her death 16 years later, though they only occupied a few of the rooms to cut costs. Upon her death, her heirs sold the mansion to pay off Lees many debts.
The Mansion served a commercial use for more than a century
It was purchased in 1804 and the great hall, the formal entertaining space at the front of the home, was turned into The Marblehead Bank. The marble fireplace and intricate wooden carvings remained intact, but during the century that a bank was operated in the structure, a few changes were made, including the replacement of wooden floors in one room.
At the end of the bank’s tenure, a rumor spread through town that a buyer wanted to purchase the property and strip it of everything historical. To stop the sale, Marbleheaders rallied by collecting pennies and hosting bake sales and other fundraisers to raise a whopping $5,000 to buy the property. The colonial then fell into the safe hands of the historical society.
Preservation efforts began in 1909 and have steadily continued since, but depend on donations and membership costs. Museum staff is hoping to raise money during the mansion’s 250th year to preserve the building and complete studies that tell them more about its history. Most of the information they have comes from an inventory taken around the time of Lee’s death, said McCormack.
The building remains unheated, but is open to the public for tours from June to October.
Events planned for the mansion’s 250th year
A series of special events are planned for 2018 in recognition of the milestone anniversary, kicking off with a fundraiser at Wick’s on Jan. 30 to raise money to restore the cast iron fence that encases the mansion entrance.
There will be a behind-the-scenes tour of the hidden nooks and crannies, a teddy bear tea, and a gala with food, a silent auction, music, and fun under the stars in the historic garden in June.
Leading up to the Fourth of July, there will be a weekend-long Marblehead Arts Festival in the garden. Labor Day at the Lee Mansion will bring a lesson on the daily lives of servants and enslaved people. At least three people were enslaved by Lee.
In September, there will be a hearth cooking lesson in the mansion’s kitchen, and as Halloween approaches, a candlelight tour will be given in the dark.
On Nov. 1, in honor of the anniversary of George Washington’s visit to the mansion, the feast served to the first president by Mrs. Lee will be recreated.
