The House

The House was built in 1752 by Moses and Elizabeth Porter on a tract of land known as “Forty Acres and its skirts.” These acres had been owned in common by the householders in the northeast quarter of the stockaded town of Hadley when it was laid out in 1659. After the Porter's only child, Elizabeth, married Charles Phelps in 1770, the house was enlarged and refined. Since 1799 there have been no structural changes. Early family members, along with numerous artisans, servants and slaves, made “Forty Acres” an important social and commercial link in local, regional and national networks of the 18th century.

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Tours

The Porter-Phelps-Huntington House is open to the public from May 15 until October 15, from 1:00 to 4:30 pm, Saturday through Wednesday (closed on Thursdays and Fridays). For information on tours and special programs, please call the staff during the afternoons at (413) 584-4699. Admission to the house is $5.00 for adults, $1.00 for children under twelve. A guided tour takes approximately one hour.

Summer Programs

The house and grounds are the site for a variety of community and educational events throughout the year. In addition to tours of the house, the major programs are the Wednesday Folk Traditions, A Perfect Spot of Tea, and Community Days. The grounds may also be rented for your special event. Please call 413-584-4699 for more information, or check out our event listings here.