Bidwell, Rev. Adonijah, House
Also known as: Deep Woods Manse
Why it's listed
This 60-acre property in the Berkshire Mountains of Monterey, Massachusetts, combines a mid-18th century farmhouse with the foundation of a village's first church. The Rev. Adonijah Bidwell House, built in 1750, is a two-story saltbox with a massive central brick chimney, three rooms around the chimney and staircase, and extensive raised wood paneling. A horse barn ell was added around 1790 and a Greek Revival woodshed and carriage house around 1837. Bidwell was the first settled minister of Housatonic Township No. 1, served for thirty-four years, and ran a large farm. His sons held county, state and national offices. Later the Carrington family farmed the land from 1837 to 1913, and from 1914 to 1922 it hosted a summer artists' colony. The Meetinghouse, built in 1743, served both Tyringham and Monterey settlements until a new church and a separate Tyringham congregation led to its dismantling by about 1798. Its stone foundation and steps survive and may hold archaeological evidence.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of the town's first settled minister and later a working farm and a summer art school. The Meetinghouse site records the early church that served what became the separate towns of Tyringham and Monterey. The nomination argues for local, regional and statewide importance under criteria A, B and C, with archaeological potential under D.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82004954, listed August 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Royal Hemlocks and Art School Rds., Monterey |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | August 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004954 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architect / builder | Rev. Adonijah Bidwell |
| Architectural style | Georgian "Saltbox" style, vernacular mid-18th century house with Greek Revival style woodshed and carriage house ell |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition, used as a private residence, with the original site unmoved and the structure altered. The 1790 horse barn ell and 1837 Greek Revival woodshed were added later, and the shingle roof was restored by the present owner. |
| Acreage | 60 |
| Coordinates | 42.20766, -73.21859 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82004954.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4904292
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.