Courtesy of the Hopkinton Historical Society
History of Old Story Farm
Sometime around 1760, Aaron Kimball's two sons, Abraham and Abel, built the first section of the farmhouse on land that was granted to Aaron Kimball as part of England's efforts to colonize America. These land grants were made to establish the towns that would become the frontier of the French and Indian War. Before the farmhouse was built, Aaron built a garrison, "Kimball's Garrison," that was located across the street from the farmhouse. A plaque currently marks the spot. Abraham Kimball was captured by Native Americans on his way from another fort in Hopkinton to his father's in 1753, and was somehow subsequently released or rescued.
The structure was built according to the rules of the land grant, which required 30 families to be in town (now known as Hopkinton), "each of them having a house there at least sixteen foot square, with a seller [sic] under it, and five acres of land cleared and fitted for mowing or tillage." The first portion of the house included the southwest parlor, front door, side hallway, half of what is now the keeping room and a second floor room with a fireplace. This is one of the oldest structures still standing in Hopkinton. The house was situated close to the main road. Records indicate that Aaron ran a tavern in the house.
Aaron's son, Abel, inherited the farm, who passed it on to his son, Moses. Moses expanded the house in about 1820 to include the northwest parlor, expanded the keeping room, and added the other two bedrooms and attic, to what is currently the main house.
Moses Kimball died in 1858, and left the farm to his daughter Lydia Poor and her husband, Isaac Story. The Story family expanded cultivation around the farmhouse, and added portions of the ell as storage areas.
The property changed hands many times until Miss Frances Hadden, from New York City, purchased the property in 1932. Miss Hadden wanted to turn the property into a gentleman's farm. She hired Concord, New Hampshire architects, Stewart Lyford and Eugene Magenau. Miss Hadden added a second floor to the ell and made it livable, and the screen porch. She also created the small "office" next to the current entryway, and hall to its left.
In 1938, the Willoughby's bought the property and turned it into the 15-16 room boarding house called Iris Lodge. The first heating system was installed in 1951.
The structure was built according to the rules of the land grant, which required 30 families to be in town (now known as Hopkinton), "each of them having a house there at least sixteen foot square, with a seller [sic] under it, and five acres of land cleared and fitted for mowing or tillage." The first portion of the house included the southwest parlor, front door, side hallway, half of what is now the keeping room and a second floor room with a fireplace. This is one of the oldest structures still standing in Hopkinton. The house was situated close to the main road. Records indicate that Aaron ran a tavern in the house.
Aaron's son, Abel, inherited the farm, who passed it on to his son, Moses. Moses expanded the house in about 1820 to include the northwest parlor, expanded the keeping room, and added the other two bedrooms and attic, to what is currently the main house.
Moses Kimball died in 1858, and left the farm to his daughter Lydia Poor and her husband, Isaac Story. The Story family expanded cultivation around the farmhouse, and added portions of the ell as storage areas.
The property changed hands many times until Miss Frances Hadden, from New York City, purchased the property in 1932. Miss Hadden wanted to turn the property into a gentleman's farm. She hired Concord, New Hampshire architects, Stewart Lyford and Eugene Magenau. Miss Hadden added a second floor to the ell and made it livable, and the screen porch. She also created the small "office" next to the current entryway, and hall to its left.
In 1938, the Willoughby's bought the property and turned it into the 15-16 room boarding house called Iris Lodge. The first heating system was installed in 1951.
Courtesy of the Hopkinton Historical Society