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Chestnut Hill, Mass.: Return to Boston
The move back to Boston
After nearly two decades in Concord, New Hampshire, Mary Baker Eddy, then 86, made national headlines by her surprise move back to greater Boston. Her house at 400 Beacon Street was built circa 1880. Mrs. Eddy was the third person to own the house, purchasing it in October 1907. During the final months of that year, at her direction, the house was greatly expanded and reconfigured to accommodate her large staff. In January 1908 she and her household took up residence in the spacious brick-and-stone mansion.
The house includes a few of the original furnishings from Mrs. Eddy’s time here. Historic photos of many of the rooms, taken by members of Mrs. Eddy’s household, are on display and can be seen throughout the house.
To house a growing staff
Mrs. Eddy’s home was a center of activity for the Christian Science movement, reflecting her role as its Leader. The remodeling of the house to accommodate her growing staff of up to twenty-four people was supervised by architect Solon S. Beman, working in close consultation with the new owner. Beman had previously collaborated in the building of The Mother Church Extension.
Grandeur outside — simplicity within
The grand proportions of the exterior of the home belie the simplicity, utility, and brightness of the interior. Mrs. Eddy had the woodwork painted a light cream color. Warm and vibrant wallpapers and carpets were installed. The downstairs was reconfigured to create a simple central entry, similar to the one that had welcomed guests at her home in New Hampshire. She had the rich wood paneling and large fireplace removed; and replaced the existing grand staircase with a more modest one that was moved to the location you see here.
Reminders of Pleasant View
One goal of the remodeling was to give Mrs. Eddy a layout of rooms reminiscent of Pleasant View, her home in Concord, New Hampshire. The bay window you see here was added to her study at the rear corner of the house—much like her study at Pleasant View. From this room she directed a worldwide movement.
Where The Christian Science Monitor was born
Mrs. Eddy’s study here closely mirrors her former work space at Pleasant View, with her desk surrounded by a bay window looking out onto trees and meadows. From this room in July 1908, just months after arriving here, Mrs. Eddy directed the officers of her church to immediately set about publishing a daily newspaper — to be named The Christian Science Monitor.
A snug little bedroom
At her insistence, Mrs. Eddy’s bedroom at Chestnut Hill was cut down closer to the scale of her snug little bedroom at Pleasant View. Tours of the house rely on historical photos like the one above to show how the rooms looked in Mrs. Eddy’s day.
Carriage house and stables
Mrs. Eddy continued her half-hour drives in the early afternoon every day. She preferred her horse-drawn carriage to the new motor cars — which is not surprising, considering her roots as a New Hampshire farm girl.
A secluded landscape
The driveway from Beacon Street to the house climbs up a slope through hilly grounds landscaped with trees, arbors, and flower gardens.
