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Community Corner

Discovering The Stevens-Coolidge Place

More than you might expect lies behind the curbside facade.

After 10 years of living in North Andover my longstanding desire to explore Stevens-Coolidge Place was finally realized. The interest has always been there, but for one reason or another, the destination eluded me. That is until this beautifully sunny Tuesday when I finally stopped in.

There was no appointment necessary as entrance to the grounds is free and open to the public, year-round, from 8 a.m. to sunset. The property is truly remarkable and currently, between the months of June and October, the plant life is especially vibrant and aromatic.

Meandering through the vast grounds is a tranquil and pleasing experience. The lush surroundings are peaceful, colorful and exceptionally well manicured. I marveled that this broad expanse of land could be so well hidden from the road. I must have driven by it thousands of times and never realized the magnitude of what existed behind the historic white colonial building.

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On a lazy summer day you might find families picnicking, dogs walking or a reader tucked away in the shade of the Great Ash Tree. It is a place to slow down, take in nature’s beauty and let the hectic world, just outside the line of privacy shrubs, melt away. You will see bright and beautiful botanicals, lily pad ponds, glass greenhouses, produce and rose gardens, orchards and more.

Whether you stop in for a quick stroll or spend a few hours, Stevens-Coolidge Place will bring you back to a time when rural retreats were the summer destination of generations.

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Stevens-Coolidge Place is a charming, 91 acre country estate located on Andover Street just past the North Andover Town Common. To drive by one might easily miss it, but it is quite the hidden treasure most worthy of investigating.

Off street parking is available directly across the street on Chestnut Street and to walk behind the neatly landscaped entrance you will discover a setting unlike anything you might expect. Don’t forget to take a guide map to assist and enlighten you during your self-guided landscape tour.

The main house was constructed in the early 1800s and interior tours are available on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to view period furnishings and decor including Asian artifacts, Anglo-Irish cut glass, European porcelain, and needlework samplers to name just a few.

This charismatic piece of North Andover history was formerly known as Ashdale Farm. It was the summer home of John Gardner Coolidge, descendant of Thomas Jefferson and nephew of Isabella Stewart Gardner, and Helen Stevens Coolidge from 1914 to 1962. It was later bequeathed to the Trustees of Reservations whose care in which it remains today.

If you’ve never visited Stevens-Coolidge Place or it has been a while, take an opportunity this summer to appreciate and enjoy this local attraction.

The Stevens-Coolidge Place is located at 139 Andover St. For more information visit, www.thetrustees.org or call 978-682-3580.

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