Hoxie House
In August 2024, I went on a five-day trip to Cape Cod, MA where I visited many museums and cultural organizations, along with quick history stops and trails. My third stop was Hoxie House in Sandwich, MA, which is owned and maintained by the town. The saltbox style house was built during the mid 17th century and has been restored after its acquisition by the town in 1959.
The first home owner was not a Hoxie but a Reverend John Smith, unrelated to the Virginian colonial leader who shared his super common name. Smith was a Separatist, much like the religious Pilgrims, and was tolerant of other Christian practices, including Quakers. Smith descendants lived in the house until 1856, when unmarried school teacher Bertha Smith died, and retired whaling captain Abraham Hoxie bought the house. Hoxie descendants lived in the house for just over a hundred years until 1957, when the town took over the property after the family failed to pay taxes. The house underwent significant restoration at that time and opened as a museum in 1959, which has been its purpose ever since. The latest restoration came in 2008, and the building still looked in great shape.
Much of the house was standard to post-Medieval style buildings. The beautifully restored casement windows featured diamond-shaped glass panes. The fireplaces had been downsized to comply with Federal style at some point in the 18th century. The antique door studded with doornails was original to the house. The guide reminded visitors of the phrase “dead as a doornail”, since these nails were too bent to serve any other purpose. The partial second story in the lean-to addition, the primary feature of the saltbox style, was always open to the first floor and accessed by a wooden ladder, in contrast to many similar houses where the the ceiling of the first story spanned the entire space to create the floor of the second story. Post-and-beam timber framing and gunstock posts were visible throughout the building.
The house also had unique features. A long rod and metal holder on display in the hall was once used as a timer. I had previously seen wax candles studded with nails that served the same purpose. Even more unique was a sea captain chest with an intricate lock. The tour guide explained that a naughty child on a school tour once closed the trunk, and a local locksmith spent several days gently picking it back open. An iron rod in the box now prevents it from closing.
Hoxie House is currently closed for the season and will announce its dates for the 2025 season in the coming weeks. During the spring, summer, and fall, it is open on Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Like most historic houses, the museum is not accessible for those using a wheelchair or with limited mobility, and the rooms are dimly lit, especially on a rainy day like when I visited. However, the museum does provide an online video tour, which is a shortened version of the in-person tour. Admission is only $5 for people ages 13 and up, $4 for active duty military, $3 for people ages 9 to 12, and $0 for people ages 8 and under. This is one of the best history bargains you will receive on Cape Cod, as the house and its guides are of the same quality as Historic New England properties. I highly recommend a visit if you are in the western part of Cape Cod and want experience an authentic early colonial building without worrying about cost, especially as a family with younger children.
Abby Epplett’s Rating System
Experience: 9/10
Accessibility: 6/10