Accessibility
To help you plan your visit, below are some of the features of the property you can expect to encounter when you arrive.
Parking
Parking is available along the side of Whittier Road. There is a gravel area by the Welcome Center and a paved area in front of the historic house. Both can fit three cars. Additional parking is available on the field by the apple trees, when there is not snow on the ground. The gap in the stone wall is wide enough for small buses or vans (and cars) to drive onto the Orchard Field. It’s easier to make the turn onto the field if you come from the Middle Road/Amesbury Road intersection. Don’t turn onto Whittier Road by Biggart’s Ice Cream.
Walkway
The walkway from the street to the entrance of the historic house is made of uneven stepping stones on grass, up a low hill. There is a railing that lines the walkway. If you parked by the apple trees, there is a break in the railing halfway, so you do not need to go all the way down to the street to access the walkway.
Historic House
There are two steps up into the historic house. Once inside, you may find it dark, especially on sunny days. The first room in particular has few windows and due to the age of the building all the rooms have limited electrical lighting. There are low bumps in each of the doorways between rooms and some of the floorboards are uneven.
Welcome Center
We have a portable ramp that can be put in place to assist visitors rolling into the Welcome Center. There is a single, accessible restroom in the Welcome Center, although there is no hot water. For visitors unable to access the historic house, videos can be watched in the Welcome Center.
Freeman Memorial Trail
The Freeman Trail is approximately a half mile trail that loops around the historic house, up into the woods, down the fields, and ends at the Welcome Center back on Whittier Road. The trail is mostly grass, but there are a set of stairs built into the hill between stops #6 and #7. The trail also includes tree roots between stops #7, #8, #9, and #10. Pick up a brochure from the box by the stone wall at Whittier Road for the guide.
Babies
The restroom does not have a baby changing table. Due to narrow doorways in the historic house, wearable baby carriers are recommended over strollers. The same applies to the Freeman Trail because of the stairs in the hill. If you need privacy to feed your baby, our staff can set you up in a back room with a portable screen.