According to the Journal of Events, The South Family Dwelling House and Office was built around 1846 and joined to the earlier Washhouse behind it. It is a 9,000 square-foot building with a bell tower. The original bell remains. There are 65 original windows. Taking advantage of the change in elevation, the lowest level foundation is faced with fieldstone on the east and north and housed the kitchen and dining room at ground level. On the west side the lowest level has cold cellars. The first floor of the dwelling house likely had a receiving room in the front and a worship room in the back. The worship room had a row of benches along the wall and was used for prayer and religious discussion. Both the Dwelling and Sisters’ Shop had metal wall hooks rather than wooden pegs along the railings.
As the population dwindled, the Shakers sold the Dwelling House in 1899 and the remaining Shakers moved to the Church Family.
After the building was sold, it was used as a fresh-air camp for city children who had contact with tuberculosis but did not have the disease; later the building was used as a chicken coop. Many of the interior partitions and woodwork were removed; the bell, stairs, and original window sashes remain. Because the building was used, it was preserved.
Log pipes supplied Washhouse water and indoor plumbing was installed in the Dwelling in 1876. A large privy stood between the Washhouse and the Applesauce House. (The original privy is at Hancock Shaker Village, but an exact replica can be seen next to the Harvard Meetinghouse.) The stone structure next to the Sisters’ shop is the Ash House: ashes from the woodstoves were stored in it and perhaps used to make soap.
“At this time the frame of our new house was raised being assisted by the brethren from the Church, 2nd Family, and Shirley, all things moved forward in good order, no accidents occurred, finished raising at 6 P.M. There were about 60 hands present.”
—June 24, 1846 South Family Shaker journal entry
As the population dwindled, the Shakers sold the Dwelling House in 1899 and the remaining Shakers moved to the Church Family.
After the building was sold, it was used as a fresh-air camp for city children who had contact with tuberculosis but did not have the disease; later the building was used as a chicken coop. Many of the interior partitions and woodwork were removed; the bell, stairs, and original window sashes remain. Because the building was used, it was preserved.
Log pipes supplied Washhouse water and indoor plumbing was installed in the Dwelling in 1876. A large privy stood between the Washhouse and the Applesauce House. (The original privy is at Hancock Shaker Village, but an exact replica can be seen next to the Harvard Meetinghouse.) The stone structure next to the Sisters’ shop is the Ash House: ashes from the woodstoves were stored in it and perhaps used to make soap.
“At this time the frame of our new house was raised being assisted by the brethren from the Church, 2nd Family, and Shirley, all things moved forward in good order, no accidents occurred, finished raising at 6 P.M. There were about 60 hands present.”
—June 24, 1846 South Family Shaker journal entry
