Shedd-Preston House (Friendship Manor)

This is one of the homes located in the National Register of Historic Places, New Ipswich Center Village Historic District. Center village is bounded roughly by Turnpike Road, Porter Hill Road, Main Street, Route 123A, Preston Hill Road, Manley Road and King Road.

This is the description of the #83 property in the National Register:

This house was built, probably about 1835, by Charles Shedd, who was Preceptor of New Ipswich Academy from 1835 until 1841. The Academy was then housed next door to the south at #84. Under his leadership the Academy's first dormitory, Students Hall, now disappeared, was built just north of this house. The next owner was Charles Keyes Bullard (1801-1860), who owned it by 1850. It then passed to his sister, Clarissa Granger (1802-1879), and then to her daughter, Martha, and her husband, William A. Preston (1834-1902). Preston was also Perceptor of the Academy, from 1874 until his death, for 28 years. In 1853 the Academy had moved to its new location (#31) on Appleton Common and been renamed Appleton Academy to honor the generous contributions of Samuel Appleton. William's son, John (1860-1930) inherited the house and lived in it until his death. During the 1940's the house became a home for wayward boys, known as "Hillsboro Haven". It then became a nursing home for a short time before being converted in the 1950's into a retirement home known as "Friendship Manor".

I'm curious about the history of it as a home for "wayward boys". A friend mention that that abuse took place. A Google search revealed nothing. If any reader has information, please add a comment.

Only a Picture Stops Time (This Blog)

Readers of my previous posts may notice that this a different publishing platform than my Final Chapter Substack page. Although Substack is easy to use it lacks some of the tagging and archiving features that are useful when cataloging these old photos. 

Thanks for reading.