Memorabilia

Item Description

This year of 2014 was a special time for the Centre Farm, formerly the Mottey House, built in 1785 at the corner of 'Where the Ways Meet" at 567 Main Street, Lynnfield. The Donovans' special collections auction was held on an autumn weekend with a real flair for the traditional use of each room.

The Centre Farm is extraodinary and unique. The legacy structure was once home to sea captain and merchant Henry Bancroft who was known for his supreme navigation skills on his way around the world, regularly trading with Canton, China, San Francisco and 'around the horn'. Other legacy owners at the farm all seem to have a hand in the water, ocean, or steam, with history of engineers, innovators and medicine, and were well travelled and did many interesting things inside the home.

This colorful collage reflects the specific uses of different parts of the farm: the red room is a large workshop area; the office a library (Dr. Donovan was known for his rare book collection and great collection of medical relics); the large ballroom with fiddlers' window once a place for Cyrus Wakefield and Eliza Bancroft to meet and court; the carriage house a place for four horses' buggies and farm equipment such as iron plows and tools.

The Town now owns the property, but no actual plans are in the works other than to make it 'commercially viable'. Historically, the large workroom space of the red room was where wicker prototype designs were made and it is thought that silk industry attempts were done here and at the Hart House nearby).

Item Special Note

 Centre Farm is central to the story of Cyrus Wakefield, an entrepreneur who worked the docks of Boston, in the 1840s he met and married Eliza Bancroft, Capt. Bancroft's daughter. He courted her and it is said they have been the featured guest of the ballroom in their day. For five years 1845-50 they lived at the farm and then moved to Wakefield on Water Street where he later imported rattan on Bancroft's boats and trains to manufacture wicker in Wakefield.

By the 1860s Wakefield was the global industrial headquarters for wicker furniture, baby carriages and such. Cyrus and Eliza settled in Wakefield where they 'gave back', giving much to the town and schools there, but not much is left today other than the Americal Civic Center and the Centre Farm to honor the legacy. 

Both seacaptain and son in law shared ability to spearhead international trade adeptly with China and ports all around the world. The Centre Farm housed several other merchant millionaires including Judge Nash first Treasurer of GE, and George N. Pierce early automobile pioneer.

The adventurous and intelligent spirit carried on by the Donovan family is evident in the collage. The collection at the farm sold at auction -a vast array of imports, tools of the trade and collectibles was a sight to be seen by local residents.

We are truly fortunate that such a family preserved this farm and presented it to the town in the way they did, and leaving the 11 acre lot full of trees including the 'golden rain' tree near the white picket fence, and the birches a Donovan favorite. The aesthetic experience of the farm is both inside and out.

Other photos are available thru the Lynnfield Cultural Council, which featured a photo tour by Dr. Al and Maureen Donovan in 2004 in the Town Tribute Scrapbook Volume 2.

Kendall Inglese is a longtime member of the Lynnfield Cultural Council and the President of the Lynnfield Art Guild in its 51st year. She has studied history at Mount Holyoke and Salem State University. She hosts shows and lectures on Lynnfield area such as David Hewes & the Golden Spike and also arranges Art Walks with theme display for events, such as the Centennial Art Show and the Cyrus Wakefield Lecture Series at the Americal Civic Center, Wakefield, Paint Out and other 'en plein air' activities.