I had driven past 721 Main Street hundreds of times but never stopped to take a closer look, until last week when I had the opportunity to photograph the exterior for a realtor who is listing this historic property. Intrigued by it's ornateness, I asked the realtor for some additional information.
According to the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the 1864 Andrew C. Cushing House is the only Second Empire residence in the Glad Tidings Local Historic District. Surrounded by more traditional colonial and cape homes, the Cushing house, with its wrought iron gate and ornate architecture, really stands out. It sports a dual pitched hipped roof (French mansard), molded cornices and decorative brackets. From the time that it was built until about 1913, the local newspaper kept tabs on the the house and its owners, reporting on all updates made to the house. It will continue to cause passersby to stop and stare and hopefully, to look closely and enjoy this amazing example of French architecture.
