A historic two-story yellow colonial house with a red door stands in a foggy landscape. It is surrounded by a well-kept lawn. In the foreground, theres a low stone wall, and trees with sparse foliage are visible, creating a serene, misty atmosphere.
Cory House farmstead preservation
country living farmhouse renovation
farmhouse renovation with original pediment
A serene rural scene with an old stone wall surrounded by lush greenery and tall grasses. In the background, there is a quaint house partially visible through the foliage of large, sunlit trees. The sunlight creates a warm, golden ambiance over the landscape.
A scenic view of a lush, grassy landscape featuring several leafy trees under a cloudy sky. In the foreground, theres a rustic stone wall made of uneven rocks, adding a natural, textured element to the serene environment.
A small wooden shed with a gabled roof and light brown door is situated in a misty, lush green garden. The foreground features two apple trees with green leaves, and a well-maintained grassy area. Fog gently obscures the background, creating a serene, rural scene.
Beautiful fireplace with recovered original millwork
preserved architectural details
Rebuilt beehive oven Colonial kitchen restoration
colonial farm kitchen renovation modern updates
historical yet contemporary home renovation
House rules, architects house
sunny hallway leading to bedroom Original plank floors
classic sitting area window design
Vintage room with two large windows featuring white shutters. Brown leather tufted sofa with a gray tote bag sits in front. A wooden side table holds stacked books. A bed with a red-patterned cover is partially visible. Green foliage is visible through the windows.
colonial furniture shuttered windows
restored farmhouse with period furniture
restored dining room old windows
clawfoot soaking tub modern amenities
post and beam frame house renovation
classic architectural preservation shingle farmhouse
A Farmhouse in Massachusetts Description Close

When Timothy Bryant started his work on the Cory House, a late-18th-century farmstead in Westport, Massachusetts, the property was slated for demolition. Its grounds were strewn with debris, its outbuildings were in complete disrepair, and the exterior planking was so damaged in some areas that vegetation grew through the walls.  Little did he know that this was to become an irresistible counter-part to the fast-pace of Manhattan living as his primary residence.

With the help of a local preservation consultant, Bryant pieced together the story of the house. Tree-ring dating performed on the oak post-and-beam framing revealed that the lumber was cut in 1777, as the new nation fought for its independence. When the faux-brick siding came off, it revealed shadow lines of the original front door surround and pediment and curved window heads, providing a blueprint for new exterior trim.

Fragments of interior millwork, recovered from a burn pile on the property, helped to accurately re-create new cornices, door casings, base boards, chair rails, sliding shutters and mantels. A box of snapshots, taken by people who had lived in the house from the 1920s to the 1960s, was discovered in one of the outbuildings.  This spectacular windfall of reference information was used to ascertain appropriate designs, colors, textures and materials for the interior. The beehive oven was rebuilt and restored to its rightful place according to a description found in a 1796 will written by the original inhabitant, William Cory.

The property was further developed selectively with a few related, age-appropriate structures.  An 1840s carriage house, moved to the site from Coventry, Rhode Island, contains chilled water units as well as electrical, telephone and cable services. And a mid-19th century granary structure – which once belonged to a Cory family relative – in Tiverton, Rhode Island, was faithfully copied to anchor an orchard of mature apple trees, transplanted from nearby.

In 2004, the house received the Sarah R. Delano Preservation Award, given to individuals and organizations that have made “outstanding contributions to rehabilitation, restoration and interpretation of the historic character and environment of Greater New Bedford.” A preservation award from the Massachusetts Historical Commission followed in 2007, and entry to the National Registration of Historic Places followed shortly thereafter.