William Lloyd Garrison House

  • Also Known As: Rockledge also St. Monica's Home

  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Building

The William Lloyd Garrison House was constructed ca 1855 as the home of Boston druggist Joseph Warren Hunnewell, who purchased the vacant lot from merchant Benjamin Perkins for $4,000 in December 1854. Joseph W Hunnewell was the brother of John L Hunnewell who was among the first druggists to sell drugs, paints and oils in Boston and the creator of the Universal Cough Remedy. Their father, Joseph Hunnewell, Sr, also a druggist, began a business on Commercial Wharf in 1837 at which both sons worked off and on during the 1830s. John L Hunnewell established his own business in 1846 and made his brother junior partner in 1847. It appears that Joseph W took over his father's business by the 1850s, with Eleazer F Pratt as his partner. The company sold various drugs, medicines, paints, oils, dyes and other products, including John L Hunnewell's famed Universal Cough Remedy, Tolu Anodyne, and Eclectic Pills. Joseph W Hunnewell's commercial success seemingly led to his purchase of the lot on Highland Street in 1854, and the subsequent construction of his home on the site. Hunnewell's house was designed as a transitional building representing the Italianate and Greek Revival styles of architecture, both of which were dominant styles in American house construction at the time. - Boston Landmarks Commission Study Report

The William Lloyd Garrison House was constructed ca 1855 as the home of Boston druggist Joseph Warren Hunnewell, who purchased the vacant lot from merchant Benjamin Perkins for $4,000 in December 1854. Joseph W Hunnewell was the brother of John L Hunnewell who was among the first druggists to sell drugs, paints and oils in Boston and the creator of the Universal Cough Remedy. Their father, Joseph Hunnewell, Sr, also a druggist, began a business on Commercial Wharf in 1837 at which both sons worked off and on during the 1830s. John L Hunnewell established his own business in 1846 and made his brother junior partner in 1847. It appears that Joseph W took over his father's business by the 1850s, with Eleazer F Pratt as his partner. The company sold various drugs, medicines, paints, oils, dyes and other products, including John L Hunnewell's famed Universal Cough Remedy, Tolu Anodyne, and Eclectic Pills. Joseph W Hunnewell's commercial success seemingly led to his purchase of the lot on Highland Street in 1854, and the subsequent construction of his home on the site. Hunnewell's house was designed as a transitional building representing the Italianate and Greek Revival styles of architecture, both of which were dominant styles in American house construction at the time. - Boston Landmarks Commission Study Report


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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1855/00/00 William Lloyd Garrison House is built c 1855 as a single-family home for Boston druggist Joseph W Hunnewell.
1864/09/00 William Lloyd Garrison Home Hunnewell sells his estate to the Garrison family trust for $8,000. Established in 1849, the trust was comprised of William L Garrison's three eldest sons. W L Garrison did not own the estate until November 1875. It was his home until his death in 1879.
1890/00/00 The carriage house dates to before 1890, but is not historically associated with William Lloyd Garrison. It was renovated for residential use in 1992.
1900/00/00 The Garrison House is maintained between 1900 and 1904 by the Rock Ledge Improvement Association, an organization of black men and women who intended to preserve the house in Garrisons memory.
1904/00/00 The Rock Ledge Improvement Association sells the Garrison estate to the Episcopal Sisters of the Society of St Margaret, who used the Garrison House for St Monica's Home, a hospital for chronically ill black women and children.

Data »

Particulars for William Lloyd Garrison House:
Sight Category Building
Level of Significance National
Criteria Person
Owner Private
Historic Use Single dwelling
Area of Significance Social History



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration:

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name:
Registry Address:
Registry Number: 66000653
Resource Type:
Owner: Private
Architect: unknown
Architectural Style: No style listed
Other Certification: Designated National Landmark, Additional documentation
Nominator Name: National Historic Landmark
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: National
Area of Significance: Social history
Applicable Criteria: Person
Period of Significance: 1875-1899, 1850-1874
Significant Year: 1864, 1879
Associated People: Garrison,William Lloyd
Historic Function: Domestic
Historic Sub-Function: Single dwelling
Current Function: Health care
Current Sub-Function: Sanatorium

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