Joseph Lothrop House ~ Bergsons 1790 Restaurant

Joseph S. Lothrop, was born in Westborough in 1797, the son of Thomas and Sarah (Forbush) Lothrop. Joseph married Eliza Fiske of Framingham, June 27, 1826. There are no documented resources available that indicates that Lothrop received a formal education or did military service. He was not a farmer, tradesman or successful merchant. Legal documents identify him as a merchant or gentleman. Although Lothrop may have considered himself a country gentleman, he was without the means to support such a title.

 It is believed that Lothrop and his new wife Eliz Fiske Lothrop first lived in the two-family, Federal-style house that was built by Nathan A. Fisher on the Turnpike. Lothrop’s sister was Susan T. Lothrop who married Nathan Fisher in 1822. Resource: Fisher Genealogy.

 With his brother-in-law Nathan A. Fisher, Lothrop partnered in business ventures and land speculation. In 1832 the partners opened a dry goods store believed to be at the Fisher house, it failed. In 1834 they patented a machine for pegging boots and shoes. It was also unsuccessful so the partners continued to invest in real estate along the Turnpike. However, it was the land deals that proved to be the demise of the Fisher & Lothrop partnership and the eventual flight of the two families from Westborough to New York City. Neither Fisher nor Lothrop was involved in town politics or community organizations. Resources: Journal of Franklin Institute pg 332. A history of Westborough, DeForest

 In 1827 the Fisher-Lothrop partnership purchased from Silas Wesson a tract of land opposite the tavern for $165.85. The piece consisted of 40 rods beginning at the northwest corner of the Turnpike, south 5 rods to the Luther Maynard farm, 8 rods east to Howe then 5 rods north to the Turnpike then west to the beginning. Masslandrecords: 256-194

 In August 14, 1832 Joseph Lothrop purchased from Russell Bowman, a ¼ acre of land with a watchmaker’s shop for $74. The lot was located on the south side of the Turnpike and in front of Wesson’s Tavern House. The combined lots became the Lothrop homestead. Resource: masslandrecords: 289-13.

 However, ownership of the spacious Federal-style house that was built on the site as Lothrop’s gentleman’s manor was short lived and in December 1832 “the dwelling now occupied by Lothrop” bordering the south side of the Worcester Turnpike, east by Holbrook & Parkman, southerly by Luther Maynard and on the west including the lot with the watchmaker’s shop was sold for $1,000 to Onslow Peters and Nathan A. Fisher. Resource: masslandreports: 290-383

 In April 1833 there was a lawsuit brought by Fisher & Lothrop in the Court of Common Pleas and a judgment of $2,741.75 was declared against Silas Wesson. A writ of habeas corpus was issued to Deputy Sheriff Larkin Newton that ordered him to: “Take the body of said Wesson and commit him onto our goal” and detain him in your custody until the full amount is paid and Fisher & Lothrop the creditors, are satisfied. “Fail not, the return of this writ by the fifth Monday of August. Artemus Ward Esq, June 24 1833.” However, according to Sheriff Newton’s return of service, Silas Wesson had fled Westborough and Worcester County and had moved to Boston. The writ of habeas corpus was not served.  Reference: masslandrecords bk.291pg.432        

In June 1836 a tri-party lawsuit was filed with the Court of Common Pleas at Worcester. The allegation was brought against Fisher & Lothrop by Onslow Peters, a creditor. Peters was awarded $2,968.  A separate judgment against Fisher was found in the amount of $1,773.68 awarded to Joseph Lothrop. A writ of habeas corpus was issued to Deputy Sheriff Daniel F. Newton that ordered him to “Take the body of said Fisher and commit him onto our goal” and detains him in your custody until the full amount is paid and Joseph Lothrop, the creditor is satisfied. Fail not and the return of this writ by the fifth Monday of August. Artemus Ward, Esq. June 24 1836.” In this case, Fisher was notified by the deputy sheriff regarding the case but Fisher disregarded and refused to cooperate. Fisher had fled Westborough, Worcester County, and was living in New York City. In abstention, Fisher relinquished four separate pieces of property equaling 10 acres valued at $1,032. Resource: masslandrecords bk319 pg299

 Lothrop’s final recorded real estate transaction was in July 1836 when he sold to Lovett Peters for $600 the four parcels described in bk319-pg299 one of which was the homestead of Thomas Lothrop, Joseph’s father. Resource: masslandrecords bk320- pg56.  

 The final recorded documented regarding Joseph Lothrop was from the Gregory Stone genealogy that Lothrop died in New York City in 1840 and his wife, Sarah Forbush Lothrop died in 1844 while on board a ship passing by Gibraltar. Resource: Stone Genealogy  

The next owner of the property of notoriety was Dr. J.H. Hero and his wife Irene who purchased the gentleman’s manor in 1866 for $825. Dr. Hero had purchased the former Wesson Tavern directly opposite the home in 1852 and established the Willow Park Water Cure. Then in 1867 Hero instituted the Willow Park Seminary but in 1876 closed the seminary, and a year later he retired and sold the manor. Resource: masslandrecords, 745-414 & 1008-282. The significance of the name was adopted when Hero developed a triangular piece of land by planting willow and maple trees located on the south side of the turnpike in front of the seminary and adjacent to the gentlemen’s manor. Hero’s influence was evident when this small area of Wessonville was identified as Willow Park on the 1870 town map. 

 From 1877 until 1922 a number of individuals owned the property. However, it wasn’t until 1930 when the property was owned by the Burhoe family that the house experienced a significant change. The proposed plans of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts were to replace the abandoned Turnpike of 1810 with a state of the art, concrete highway with a 120-foot right of way that would cut the Minnie Burhoe and Margaret Ord homes in half.

 The old dirt Worcester Turnpike was 21-feet wide and less in many areas since1841 when the road was abandoned by the private corporation that owned it. The new road layout would be 70-feet wide, four 10-foot concrete lanes split by a grass median and a 10-foot breakdown lane on each side. There would be a break in the new road at Park Street to allow vehicles to cross the Turnpike to the Lyman School. The new 120-foot right of way would require the house to be raised and moved 50 feet south and west of the edge of new right of way.   

 Park Street, formerly identified as the road from Wessonville to the railroad station, would also be relocated to create a true crossway intersection with the new road. The road heading northerly to Willow Park was split like a Y as it approached the intersection of the Turnpike. The left fork headed west, the right east with a large triangle in the middle that was owned by the Town. This was the area identified as the triangle that Hero developed with willow trees in the1860s. In reengineering plan, the fork and the large triangle belonging to the town became part of the east bound lane of the new road.

 The state took 12,530 square feet of Minnie Burhoe’s front yard and reimbursed her $626, plus the cost of relocating the buildings on new concrete foundations. The state also bargained for land transfers with Margaret Ord, an abutter, along with the Town of Westborough to satisfy all the property owners concerns. Resource: masslandrecords, 2544-23, 2275-426

 In the picture, the structure to the left is connected to the main house and was actually the carriage house. Prior to moving the house in 1930, the carriage house was behind and to the right side of the house but moved to the left side and forward so as not to encroach on the property of the Boston & Worcester Trolley Railway that was built in 1902.

 In May 1950 Clifford Hanson of Westborough purchased the aging federal-style house from Emma Wynott of Pictou, Nova Scotia for $11,000. Hanson, formerly of East Main (Street) then moved his antiques business into the carriage house and remained in business until 1970. Resources: masslandrecords 3263-249. Then in November 1973 Hanson sold the property to partners Eric Pearson and Ralph Swedberg, d.b.a. Bergsons Ice Cream and Food Shops Inc., for $110,000. Resource: masslandrecords 5405-496

 Upon purchasing the property, the partners made a commitment to restore the building to its former glory. This required a significant renovation from the roof to the cellar. The interior rooms were remodeled to there original historic integrity of the Federal period. Painted horsehair plaster walls with pine wainscoting and wide pine floors were restored. Large fireplaces in each room trimmed with white ornate mantels and pilasters were repaired. The main entrance was retained with leaded glass side lights and a transom. White exterior clapboards were retained as well as the black shutters typical of the Federal period as were all the buildings of Wessonville at this time.

  Bergsons 1790 House

 The front door opened to a hallway with a center staircase and dinning rooms on each side. At the end of the hallway were a smaller more intimate dinning room and a step down to a large English style pub room. This room accommodated large family groups or social club dining. The expansion also allowed a new kitchen and the remodeling of the connector to the carriage house which was transformed from an unfinished antiques showroom to restrooms for patrons. At the time this house was built it was truly a gentleman’s manor.

 Due to the efforts of the owners, and with the assistance of the Westborough Historical Commission, the house was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. That prestigious designation was approved in 1980.

 During my weekly luncheons as a Rotary member and occasional family dinners I grew to appreciate the restoration work done by the Pearson & Swedberg partnership. I often considered the 1790 House Westborough’s version of the Wayside Inn of Sudbury. While others thought it was nicer. Although the restaurant suspended business in 2011, the building remains as an historical treasure that embraces the era of Wessonville when the stagecoaches and pony express traveled the Worcester Turnpike of 1810. 

Glenn R. Parker