The Trustees: Winterlights at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens

A black, white, and dark blue striped header image with the text The Trustees: Winterlights at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens

Every year, The Trustees of Reservations hosts winter holiday celebrations called Winterlights, where several properties are brightly lit for visitors to walk through a night. This past December, I visited the Winterlights at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover, MA. This ninety-one acre (0.37 km sq) estate was once the summer home of Helen Granger Stevens Coolidge, which she shared with her well-connected diplomat husband, John Gardner Coolidge.

A blue sign with lit-up letters standing between two decorated Christmas trees Lit up letters standing between a pair of wooden penguins String lights attached to a metal pole at an angle to make trees.

The property had been owned by the Stevens family since 1729, although they had called the estate Ashdale Farms because so many ash trees grew on the property. When Helen Coolidge died in 1962 and bequeathed the property to the Trustees, it marked the end of 233 years of ownership. The property was upgraded beginning with it ownership by Gertrude Maud Stevens Kunhardt, the oldest sister of Helen Coolidge. Louisa Bancroft Stevens, apparently not related to the other Stevenses, designed the Perennial garden in 1907.

A tunnel covered in yellow string lights with lit Christmas trees underneath. A tunnel with an elongated diamond shape covered by colorful lights behind an opening in a red brick wall A rambling farmhouse that is red brick on the right side and whitewashed wood on the other side.

Seven years later in 1914, Joseph Everett Chandler moved the barn, expanded the main house in the Colonial Revival style, and added gardens to elevate the property. One of my favorite additions was a little fountain made of a cherub’s head. As for a shortlist Chandler’s other work, he designed Red Roof in Gloucester, MA for politician Abram Piatt Andrew, Jr., which once neighbored Historic New England’s Beauport constructed by Henry Davis Sleeper. Chandler worked with William Sumner Appleton, Jr. to restore Historic New England’s Browne House in Watertown, MA along with Rebecca Nurse Farm in Danvers, MA. If that was not enough for connections, John Garner Coolidge’s aunt was Isabella Stewart Gardner who turned her home into a museum.

A semicircular opening to a pathway. The tunnel is covered in blue and orange lights, while Stevens-Coolidge House is lit green in the back left. The tunnel covered in blue and orange lights curves to the right Blue and orange string lights make up a curved wall. Visible through the gaps are pink lit trees

As for the lights, I was impressed by the wide variety of designs, from classic Christmas trees to lit tunnels. While picture-taking in this type of lighting can be difficult, great photos could be achieved with a little patience. One interactive element on the walk was a game to discover all the letters in a mystery word. While my group quickly figured out the word was “penguin”, we mostly enjoyed searching for the letters. However, the prize was a disappointment, as we were awarded the world’s tiniest candy canes.

A little white stone cherub face has an open mouth where water would spill into the basin below. The fountain is connected to a stone wall decorated with string lights A red, wooden letter N is perched in a Christmas tree, which stands in the tunnel of yellow lights Parts of the sign include a map of the property, brief text on the history, site rules, and the Trustees logo

Signage around the property in England and Spanish told more about the family. Helen and John met when Helen worked as a “lady’s companion”, apparently part of a common practice for rich people to hire upper middle class people to be their friend. I think I missed my calling. Although John was thirteen years older than Helen, perhaps the family thought they were a good match or were concerned about John not yet being married. The sign did not give details. Other signs discussed remodeling on the property, such as different types of refrigerators in the kitchen and the use of the terrace as a gathering place for family and friends conveniently located near the dining room.

A traditionally decorated tree in the middle of a Colonial Revival style room with wooden floors, antique furniture, and bookshelves Three framed black-and-white photos hung on a wall. The top left portrays a young woman with early 20th century clothing. The second portrays a young man with early 20th century clothing. The third portrays a house obscured by ash trees. A traditional black iron stove from the mid to late 19th century

Winterlights was a great opportunity to see a historic property in a different light than the usual house tour. The property was easy to navigate and fairly well-lit, while the house was a nice break from the cold. Be sure to bundle up if you plan on visiting during this holiday event! Ticket prices vary depending on time of day and membership but are generally between $20 and $30 per person. I will certainly return to Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens to receive an inside tour once the weather turns warmer.

Location: Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, 153 Chickering Rd, North Andover, MA 01845, USA

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