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In late September 2011, 28 participants gathered from 11 different states for a four-day bus trip through New England. The tour group traveled to more than 13 historical sites related to the life and work of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer, Founder, and Leader of Christian Science. Destinations included Longyear Museum, Longyear’s eight historic houses, and stops in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

At the conclusion of the Fall Tour, one participant said, “Each house helped to demonstrate part of Mrs. Eddy’s story. As the Longyear staff painted the historical picture with detail, the feeling of closeness to Mrs. Eddy grew stronger. Her life was unselfish, God-directed, and inspired by Love. Each stop along the way confirmed this.”

The first stop on the tour was Bow, New Hampshire — Mrs. Eddy’s birthplace. Today there is an outline of the Baker family farmhouse on this property. Here participants pose with a sketch of the Baker home.

Prior to her discovery of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy was a member of this church — the Northfield Tilton Congregational Church. This is the only other church that Mrs. Eddy was ever a member of beside her own church.

Next, the group stopped at the Mary Baker Eddy Historic House in North Groton. Participants were able to explore the property, including the site of Daniel Patterson’s sawmill and the historic house. One participant said after the visit to North Groton, “What humility and love she had to be separated from her son and living in such a desolated place surrounded by noise from the sawmill.”

The North Groton Historical Society hosted the tour guests at the one-room school house. It was here that Mary Baker Eddy’s son, Georgie Glover, attended classes while living with the Cheney family in North Groton.

During a stop in Concord, New Hampshire, the tour group visited First Church of Christ, Scientist; the New Hampshire State House; and the Mary Baker Eddy Historic House at 62. North State Street. One participant, commenting on their favorite part of the tour said, “62 North State Street, Concord — Mrs. Eddy’s willingness, humility, and unselfed love to undo (disorganize) much of what she had organized as she began to establish her church touched me deeply. She saw the need to do this so that the church could be established on a more secure foundation for all time.”

The tour headed south to the Wentworth house in Stoughton, Massachusetts. Mrs. Eddy lived with the Wentworth family beginning in 1868 and stayed for about a year and a half. It is here that Mrs. Eddy completed her first manuscript on Christian Science, The Science of Man.

The Stoughton property includes a shoe shop. When Mrs. Eddy was a guest of the Wentworth’s, this shoe shop was owned by Alanson Wentworth, who was a shoe maker as well as a farmer.

Participants learn about life in the town of Amesbury, Massachusetts. Mrs. Eddy lived in Amesbury while boarding with Sarah Bagley in this house. One participant said of their time in this house, “In the Bagley house…it really showed how she [Mary Baker Eddy] started her work from simple beginnings.”

Resident Overseers greet guests at the house in Swampscott, Massachusetts. Mrs. Eddy rented the second floor of this house. This is where Mrs. Eddy had the healing that led to her discovery of Christian Science.

To protect original carpets in many of the houses, participants slipped these blue booties over their shoes.

Participants were able to examine the newly-completed exterior restoration at the Mary Baker Eddy Historic House in Lynn, Massachusetts. The interior restoration will begin in 2012. It is in this house that Mary Baker Eddy completed her work, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

On Sunday, the tour guests attended the morning church service at The Mother Church. Following the service, participants enjoyed a tour of The Original Edifice and The Extension, as well as a brief organ demonstration.

At the conclusion of the Fall Tour one participant said, “Thank you Longyear for all you did to make this precious enlightening four-day study of Mrs. Eddy’s life available to us. It not only has greatly enriched my understanding of Mrs. Eddy, but motivated me to get busy and learn and study more.”