Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons. The Fowler Houseislocated in the Danversport section of Danvers, Massachusetts, and is one of the towns few brick Federal period homes. The residence was built in 1809 by builders Levi Preston and Stephen Whipple forSamuel Fowler Jr., an early Danvers industrialist and landowner in this part of town. The property was passed down through generations of theFowlerfamily and ultimately acquired by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (SPNEA, now known as Historic New England) as theirsecond property acquisition in 1912. Uniquely, Historic New England granted life occupancy of the house to the two unwed Fowler sisters, who had resided here, even as it was converted into a museum. When bought by SPNEA, some members were concerned that the Fowler house was not grand or architecturally interesting enough to warrant its acquisition, Samuel Appleton, the founder, stated,As might be expected, the Fowler home reflects the simple tastes of its owner. As seen from the square the house is as severely simple as it could be. It depends for its effect on its very simplicity and admirable proportions. The principal features of the house may be said to be simplicity, good taste, solid construction, splendid preservation, and homogeneity. The property was eventually sold by Historic New England to a private owner,but a preservation easementby the Society ensures its preservation for the future. The Fowler House was recently listed for sale, and the property retains many historical features, including original ca. 1810 wallpaper in the main two-story entry hall and a large hearth in the main kitchen, its original floors, plaster, woodwork and other features.