Period
1813-1856
Emily Dickinson Museum: Evergreens
Location
Amherst, Massachusetts
Notables
National Historic Landmark
HISTORICAL LEGACY
The Evergreens was the home of Emily Dickinson’s brother, Austin, his wife, Susan, and their three children. Built next door to the Homestead, the house was a wedding gift from Austin’s father, Edward Dickinson. Designed in the Italianate style by Northampton architect William Fenno Pratt and constructed in 1856, it was one of the first residences in Amherst to embody this new picturesque architectural form.
Emily Dickinson
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Over the past two decades, MCWB Architects has planned and managed numerous projects at The Evergreens, including building studies, documentation, and restoration efforts. Early projects prioritized stabilizing the house and addressing critical issues related to mechanical systems and water infiltration. Once the structure was secured, the focus shifted to deferred maintenance, exterior repairs, and restoration work.
RESEARCH & DOCUMENTATION
The Evergreens has never undergone a full restoration and remains in a state of managed preservation. When the Emily Dickinson Museum was established in 2003, many questions remained about the history and evolution of the house. Since it had never been formally studied, the museum commissioned MCWB Architects to develop a Historic Structure Report (HSR) for The Evergreens. This work included measured drawings of the plans and elevations, and an architectural analysis to trace the building’s development and evolution. Analytical methods such as cross-section paint microscopy (paint analysis), dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) to determine the age of a preexisting structure incorporated into The Evergreens, and a comprehensive survey of the house’s wallpapers provided critical insights into its history, how the building changed through time and its existing condition.
RESTORATION & IMPROVEMENTS
Initial work at The Evergreens focused on safeguarding the house and its collections. A VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detecting Apparatus) fire detection system was installed to provide early warning against potential fire hazards. Outdated mechanical equipment was replaced with new heating and cooling systems, allowing for better control of the building’s interior environment.
To address chronic water infiltration in the basement, a subsurface drainage system was installed beneath a new slab, effectively concealing it while creating a functional space for mechanical systems and other services. Additionally, a high-pressure water mist fire suppression system was implemented to further protect the building and its collections.
