Update: Patriotism at the Heart of Preserving 300 Year-Old House

Editor's Note: The Daughters of the American Revolution dinner dance, held Saturday night raised $2,037, thanks to supporters. The funds will be used to maintain the DAR House also known as the Peck House. Thanks to the and who supported the event by buying a "table" each.

DAR members are finding the $4,000 to $4,500 yearly maintenance bills increasingly difficult to mange but can't imagine letting the former home of four of Attleboro's American Revolutionary War heroes fall into disrepair. 

Tours of the house are encouraged and  donations welcomed, according to Jane Nerney. 

Historic preservation has been all the buzz in Attleboro lately as people far and wide have actively and successfully lobbied for the preservation of the , a historic home on Park Street in downtown Attleboro. Therefore no one should be surprised to hear that there is another historic Attleboro building in need of financial remedy.

That building is the Old Peck House, also known as the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) House. It is located on the corner of North Main and Elizabeth Streets and is cited in the Attleboro Historical Commission’s Site Guide as one of the oldest buildings in the city.

Thomas Sweet built the Old Peck House near Capron Park in 1723. When Sweet married one of Hezekiah Peck’s daughters, he had the house moved to North Main Street into the area of the present CVS, which at the time was the location of the Peck family home and farm. The family cemetery, established in 1723 still survives behind CVS.

The Pecks continued to live in the city until 1900 when the house became too small for them. Plans were consequently made for its demolition.

Around the same time, a Connecticut DAR member, Marion Pierce Carter returned to her hometown of Attleboro and organized 35 of her friends in the establishment of an Attleboro Chapter DAR.  The group’s purpose is to be a volunteer service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism while also preserving American history.

Jane Nerney, long time member of the Attleboro DAR said, “The Attleboro Chapter was officially organized on January 3, 1902 by Miss Sara Daggett and Miss Helen Winslow of Boston. One year later on January 1, 1903 the DAR purchased and moved the Peck House. Since that time the Attleboro Chapter DAR has maintained the house, opened it for both public and private tours and held its monthly meetings here.”

 “Through many fund raising teas and other events the DAR was able to move only the portion of the house that Sweet built," Nerney added. "The poor condition of the rest of the house deemed it unsalvageable and it was demolished rather than moved.”

Now funds are needed, not to move the 288-year-old house but to maintain and preserve it.

"The possibility of losing our irreplaceable Peck House really tugged at my heartstrings,” Kate Kelley said. Kelley is one of the fundraiser coordinators who spearheaded the idea for this annual event.  “Hosting a Patriotic Dinner Dance to involve the public in helping us maintain one of Attleboro's historic treasures was well received by DAR chapter members who share the same affection for preserving history."

The public is invited to assist in the preservation and maintenance on the DAR on April 10, 2011 at the Chapter's first annual Patriot's Day Dinner Dance at the Highland Country Club. The fundraiser begins at 5:30 p.m. and a $45 ticket includes dinner, dancing, and a "Split the Pot" raffle. 

In addition, photographs of the DAR’s extensive antique collection will be available for viewing.  The collection of antiques was not part of the original Peck House but they are authentic to that time period. DAR members have bequeathed the antiques  over the years.