Copper-Frost Austin House

Constructed by Samuel Cooper on land owned by his father, Deacon John Cooper, since 1657, the house exemplifies early Colonial American architecture. 

Originally, the structure featured a single room and chimney bay, standing two and a half stories tall with an integral lean-to. This design included spaces referred to as the "low room," "little room," "kitchen," "chamber," "kitchen chamber," "garret," and "cellar," all of which remain intact today, along with the original chimney and a façade gable. 

Around 1720, Samuel Cooper's son expanded the house, and between 1807 and 1816, Martha Frost Austin and Thomas Austin added an enclosed porch, along with Federal-style stairways and trim. 

The property remained within the same family for over 250 years until its acquisition by Historic New England in 1912. 

Today, it operates as a museum, offering insights into early colonial life. While the house is rarely open for public tours, private tours can be arranged during the summer months. 

For more information or to schedule a visit, you can contact Historic New England at 617-994-6669.

In 1630, the date of the first English settlement, Pequusset, was occupied by indigenous people under the name Massachusett, who inhabited what is now the Metro Boston region.

They settled and prospered from the rich natural resources, especially fishing and beaver trapping, associated with the river they called Quinobequin (“meandering”), which we now call the Charles River.

The land associated with the Cooper Frost Austin House originally ran south to the common and access to the grazing land undoubtedly enhanced its value.

The 1630 transfer of “ownership” of Pequuset was not negotiated with its indigenous inhabitants. Rather, the first English colonists simply seized the land which they believed was unoccupied, notwithstanding its seasonal occupation and exploitation by the Massachusett.