Front:
JHAKER
EGLEN
HORSE 三
三A
S.Scott
SHAKER GLEN HOUSE
168 Lexington Street
Woburn Mass., Route 128
Back:
This old farmhouse was built and originally occupied
by Captain Joseph Gardner in the early part of the
19th century. After four years of labor one year on the
foundation alone, the house was completed (1804)
built entirely from timber grown on the property. The
old shed, now the dining room, is part of the original
structure, the fireplace marking what was the end of
the old summer kitchen.
The murals in the hall and reception room, found under
layers of wallpaper, are the well preserved paintings of
Rufus Porter made before he became famous as an in-
ventor and publicist. These are some of the most com-
plete and important so far discovered. It is said he
earned his board and room while attending college by
painting murals on the walls of early American homes.
Rufus Porter later became famous as an inventor. He
was the founder of the Scientific American; the inven-
tor of a repeating gun, a stern paddle wheel river steam
boat and a power driven dirigible balloon.
The house is structurally the same as it was originally
except for the recent addition to the shed made nec-
essary by increasing patronage.
