Discover the Gores’ Historic Country Estate
The Mansion
Christopher Gore was a prominent Boston lawyer and politician who became one of the wealthiest men in Massachusetts through his investments and legal practice. Like many wealthy Bostonians, he and his wife, Rebecca, wanted an elegant country house to spend their summers, so upon returning from Europe–where Christopher had served as a diplomat for seven years–they began construction on their Waltham estate.
The brick house at Gore Place was completed in 1806. A Federal-style country house designed by Rebecca Gore and French architect Jacques-Guillaume Legrand, it was a visual and technological marvel, boasting central heating, hot water, and indoor plumbing. Inspired by European estates, the mansion was adorned by gardens, ornamental trees, and a 200-acre gentleman’s farm, making the Gores’ “farm at Waltham” among the most beautiful, progressive, and productive in the country. Among those who visited the estate were notable figures such as James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Daniel Webster.
The Mansion was usually staffed by at least four servants. The most notable was Robert Roberts, who worked for eighteen months at the Gore Estate. A published author and activist, Roberts was a fascinating figure whose story can be read here. To learn more about the history of the Gores’ estate and farm, visit our Farm History page.
The Carriage House
The Gores’ Carriage House was built in 1793. The building was an important part of the estate, as it housed carriages, horses, and stored a range of equipment including harnesses, saddles, bridles and other tack. Hay and grain were also stored in the Carriage House, and the cellar was utilized to make compost for fertilizing fields.
The Carriage House has been moved and renovated several times. Originally located on what is now the northbound side of Gore Street, the structure was moved in 1965 when the street was widened by the City of Waltham. Gore Place moved the structure farther north, but issues with moisture in the foundation forced another relocation. The Carriage House was moved to its current location in 2014 and has since been renovated to include educational and historical information as well as more space for functions.
As part of the renovation process, original planks stored in the attic by the Gores were cleaned, sanded, and reused in the Carriage House’s walls.
The Farm House
The Farm House at Gore Place was first built in 1835. It was originally located across the “Old Back Road”—now Waltham Street––but has since been moved and rebuilt at its current location.
The Barns
Based on historical designs, the threshing and pole barns at Gore Place bring a sight from rural nineteenth-century Massachusetts to the present day.
Long a fixture on family farms, the threshing barn is an important building where farmers removed grains like wheat and corn from their stalks. The pole barn is another traditional farm building, and typically has high ceilings, no basement, and wide, open-air space supported by wooden beams.
Both barns play a variety of important roles on the farm today, from storing tools and equipment to providing shelter for our animals.
To learn more about the history of Gore Place, click the links below:
GORE PLACE TIMELINE
WHO WAS ROBERT ROBERTS?
LEARN ABOUT THE FARM
