The extreme end of Cape Ann in the 17th century presented an appearance far different from that of today. Champlain in 1605 described the area as heavily wooded. The shore closely resembles the wooded portions of Maine today. Many residents remembered the last stands of primeval pines which used to bring visitors from miles around until at last they succumbed to the lumbermen.
Champlain had found the Indians at “Cap des Isles,” as he called Cape Ann, very amiable, although he was much on his guard against them; and later visitors and settlers seemed to have no serious trouble with them. The whole district however, was terrified of the Indians during the King Philips War, and the Indian attacks came alarmingly close to the towns of Chebacco and Ipswich. In March of 1676, spurred on by the peril, a committee of the General Court reported that Cape Ann had made two garrison houses, besides several particular fortifications.
Back from Pigeon Cove on the top of a low hill to the north stands ”Old Garrison House.” It seems a reasonable assumption that this was built for the protection of woodcutters and fishermen whose temporary huts offered scant security against Indian raids. This is borne out by the character of the building, whose exterior walls are of quarter-sawn logs of hard pine or tamarack seven inches thick and strongly dovetailed at the corners. The log construction shows such careful workmanship that the cracks between the logs are in many places less than an inch apart. The second floor ceiling is constructed in the usual 17th century manner with ‘summer’ beam supporting the floor joists.
This community was poor and remote. These houses and many others of later date which may still remain possess little elaboration either of plan or of architectural detail but have a character by which they achieve a great measure of spaciousness and dignity, Built altogether of wood by men who had learned its qualities in building ships as well as houses, they show throughout a right use of this material.

The history presented here, not overly dramatized, is somewhat representative of lives lived in a new land by courageous, hard-working families who used the material at hand for shelter and protection from natural elements, some of which lived on the land before them. The incredible amount of effort it took to erect four relatively impenetrable walls to create such a fortress-like structure was testament to their ingenuity and dedication to the safety of their community.
These garrison houses in our experience, are quite rare, this one being only the second we’ve ever had the opportunity to offer. The logs themselves tell their own long story in the countless rings that have witnessed every generation to settle the land since it first became a dream worth chasing. If you are looking for a home or an addition to your home with incredible character, the likes of which we have not seen in our four decades in this business, perhaps this is the one for you. Why not live in an original log home with real history in its walls? It will speak to your soul of real memories, of true craftsmanship and the spirit of those who built it.

It may become the great room, perhaps overlooking a lake or park-like setting. It could be enlarged with other period additions from our inventory. There were two fireplaces originally, one at each end of the garrison house. The original green Federal mantelpiece c1770 is a local New York state piece. The other in red is of unknown provenance but also quite early. A great feature of the house is the pedimented Neo-classical entrance c1770 with palladian transom and panelled pilasters. It is also native to New York state. Original period pine flooring also comes with the house. We are prepared to help you with historic architectural design to blueprint stage, custom paint or stain to achieve appropriate antique patinas, traditional kitchen cabinetry and even period furnishings to complete the ambiance. Don’t miss seeing (or owning) this one-of-a-kind house. We look forward to meeting you at the show.