Boulder Farm
Built in the 1700s, Boulder Farm, previously known as “Miss Peabody’s Tea House,” owes much of its history to Dr. Roy Carlson, former President of Mount Ida Junior College, and his wife, Ivy Carlson. In 1964, the house was about to be demolished for new home construction. Ivy, a collector and dealer in antiques, saw the value of the house as a residence, and convinced Roy to purchase the house for one dollar and have it moved down to its present location, 200 feet into campus grounds.
While the house was moved to campus and is, therefore, an addition to the original estate land, Boulder Farm is a historically significant structure in its own right. Along with Shaw Hall, Hallden Academic Support Center, and Holbrook Hall, Boulder Farm is listed on the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Historic Campus Architecture Project (HCAP), a national architecture and landscape database documenting places of historical significance on private college and university campuses.
The significance of Boulder Farm’s structure lies in its simple design and solid construction, which illustrates New England architectural style in the 18th century. The house, now believed to be the second oldest in Newton, features large fireplaces, wide-board floors, low timbered ceilings, narrow stairwells, and wrought iron door hardware. On top of the stylistic elements, the original design includes a hiding spot behind the fireplace as attacks by Native Americans sometimes occurred.
The house traditionally serves as a residence for college presidents and their families. In President Brown’s tenure, he is opening Boulder Farm for alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and dignitaries. He anticipates welcoming members of the Mount Ida community to a number of receptions and official college events at this location. Today, as history continues at Boulder Farm, the house has a new tradition of warm and gracious entertaining extended by the Brown family.
While the house was moved to campus and is, therefore, an addition to the original estate land, Boulder Farm is a historically significant structure in its own right. Along with Shaw Hall, Hallden Academic Support Center, and Holbrook Hall, Boulder Farm is listed on the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Historic Campus Architecture Project (HCAP), a national architecture and landscape database documenting places of historical significance on private college and university campuses.
The significance of Boulder Farm’s structure lies in its simple design and solid construction, which illustrates New England architectural style in the 18th century. The house, now believed to be the second oldest in Newton, features large fireplaces, wide-board floors, low timbered ceilings, narrow stairwells, and wrought iron door hardware. On top of the stylistic elements, the original design includes a hiding spot behind the fireplace as attacks by Native Americans sometimes occurred.
The house traditionally serves as a residence for college presidents and their families. In President Brown’s tenure, he is opening Boulder Farm for alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, and dignitaries. He anticipates welcoming members of the Mount Ida community to a number of receptions and official college events at this location. Today, as history continues at Boulder Farm, the house has a new tradition of warm and gracious entertaining extended by the Brown family.