THE ROBBINS HOUSE
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The House
The Robbins House, now the home of Union Historical Society, is located on Union
Common at 343 Common Road. It is a modified Greek Revival building with a center
chimney and an attached ell. The parlors on the north side of the first floor
are furnished in early Victorian style. Two upstairs bedrooms are furnished
in period style. The meeting room, which also serves as a work room and contains
some of the library's collection, is accessible by a wheelchair ramp.
The Vose Library
The Robbins House is also the home of the VOSE LIBRARY which maintains a full-service
library on the first floor. Library hours are: Tuesdays 10:00 am - 8:00 pm;
Wednesdays 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm; Fridays 10:00 am To 6:00 pm; Saturdays 9:00 am
to 12:00 noon. The Library is a welcoming and busy place and its staff are always
willing to direct visitors to Historical Society information resources.
Robbins House history
Built in 1849, the house was owned by a series
of doctors until 1897 when it was purchased by Jason Robbins. The Robbins family
lived there for 58 years, until the death of Jason's niece Clemmie Robbins in
1955. Clemmie Robbins was the town's telephone operator. It was probably during
this time that a porch was added, and the doorway between the two north rooms
widened. In the area now used by the Vose Library was the dining room, kitchen,
woodshed and entrance to the barn. In 1975 the Union Historical Society bought
the property with the intention of sharing part of it with the Vose Library.
It was in sad shape. It was the Society's intent to have the outside of the
house look as when it was first built. Therefore the sagging porch was removed
and the garage, which interim owners had substituted for the barn, was enlarged
into the present meeting room. The foundation revealed that the original door
had been recessed and an appropriate style of door with sidelights was donated
by Joe and Hazel Marcus when they restored the Alden House.
Furnishings
The furnishings were donated by members of Union Historical Society, were
given to the Society as bequests, or were purchased with funds raised by local
organizations or donated to the Society.
(click to enlarge)
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Parlors
With Brussels carpets over hardwood floors, the Victorian-style parlor
furnishings include upholstered sofa and chairs, a round marble-topped
table, a card table, a dining table and straight cane-seated chairs, a
Brown pump organ (made in Union), and a maple corner secretary donated
by the Town of Union. On the wall hang portraits of Jason Robbins and
his wife Laura. |
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(click to enlarge)
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North bedroom
In the larger bedroom upstairs is a complete chamber set made of local
woods in Union's Thurston Bros. Factory (now the casket factory); a small
table made and decorated at Union's Wingate and Simmons Carriage Factory;
a prize quilt; and a child's desk and chair. |
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(click to enlarge)
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South bedroom
In the small bedroom upstairs is a spool bed, complete with rope springs,
straw mattress, feather bed and pieced quilt; a wash stand with ewer and
bowl; gay nineties clothing hanging on the pegs; and tintypes on the bureau. |
Furnishings owned by the Come Spring characters
The small chair in the north bedroom belonged to Joel and Mima Robbins Adams.
Come Spring records their journey to purchase it after their marriage.
The Society also owns artifacts used by Mima Robbins Adams in her daily life
- her mortar and pestle, her "Book of Sermons", and her Bible.
Exhibits
Also to be seen in the Robbins House are the town's old telephone exchange switchboard
and many artifacts and paper memorabilia relating to the history of the Town
of Union, its industry, businesses, prominent citizens and civic life. The displays
are changed periodically.
Additional pictures of the Robbins House
(click to enlarge)
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