The Parson Capen House
"somethings are meant only for a moment or two"
“Our house is a very fine house.”
When we found out that our home we had just purchased was a replica of The Parson Capen House in Topsfield, Ma we became giddy with a sense of adventure. Our time off was always best spent exploring the backroads of New England and especially any that ran along the coast. We leisurely strolled through second hand stores, antique shops, and flea markets with no agenda other than finding something that no one else had, which spoke to our sense of whimsy, and was beautifully crafted by someone’s two hands. We were in love and time spent together was treasured and looked forward to. I still remember the first time we drove down to Topsfield, MA to get an up close look of the house that inspired our new home and to soak up the rich history that was promised to be delivered by our quick trip south.
We drove through the beautiful back roads of Massachusetts through the quintessential towns that acted very much like a time machine back to a place in history that was much simpler yet assuredly difficult at times. We pulled in under a big Oak tree and parked the car. The house sat to our left atop the small knoll and my heart began to beat faster with anticipation of getting inside. I immediately recognized the large chimney and finials that adorned the front corners of the overhang. I couldn’t wait to get inside. I ran ahead of Kyle to the windows and shielded my eyes from the bright sunlight to see into the darkened rooms. I felt like a young girl peeking into a beautiful doll house filled with the most magical pieces and treasures. I could feel Kyle approaching and was excited to share the discovery I had just made.
Shortly after we moved into our farm on Witchtrot Road, Kyle and I went to a yard sale around the corner on Emery’s Bridge Road at Runaway Farm. I had spied an antique spinning wheel missing its mechanics but smoothed from decades of use. The hairs on my arms raised as I ran my hand along the wheel and bench. I asked Arnold how much he wanted for it and was overjoyed to pay him $25. We picked up a few other pieces and brought them back to start turning our new house into a home. I reached back and grabbed Kyle’s soft flannel shirt. I wanted him to see what I was seeing. I pulled him by his sleeve closer to me so he could peer into the window and discover what I just had. In the very same corner, in the same room was almost an exact replica of the spinning wheel I had recently purchased and brought home to the farm. Kyle pulled back from the window and looked at me with wide eyes. We were both a little bit shocked, and the eeriness of the coincidence filled us both with a nervous excitement.
Above pictured the spinning wheel purchased from Runaway Farm in South Berwick, Maine at a yard sale shortly after we purchased SeaStar Farm on Witchtrot, Road.
Above pictured the spinning wheel in the same corner in the same room at The Parson Capen House in Topsfield, Ma.
We quickly made our way into the house and paid the small admission fee to view each of the rooms and find out more about Parson Capen and how he came to be the man of the house in the late 1600’s. The tour guide was friendly and when we shared that we had just purchased a replica of the house in South Berwick, Maine and showed him pictures he was happy to bring us upstairs for a complete tour of the house. We were like kids in a candy shoppe pouring over each room, each detail, and commonality discovered between the two farms. We were mesmerized by the uncanny feeling that at times we felt we were standing in our new home. There are moments in life that we find ourselves in times and places that seem very much orchestrated by a force other than ourselves. When we allow life to unfold naturally it has a magical way of putting us in unexpected places, and opening up our ability to consider a world beyond our own.
Looking back over the past ten years and the memories created on Witchtrot Road, I have so very much to be thankful for. We were fortunate to have created so many magical memories both inside and out about throughout the fields, pond, and the trails behind the barn that stretch on for miles. We loved, we fought, we laughed, and we struggled just like all families do. We created a lifetime of moments to be remembered, considered, and hopefully grow from into better versions of ourselves.
