IPSWICH — The Day-Dodge house at the corner of North Main and East streets is this year's recipient of the Mary P. Conley award for historic preservation.
Resident and architect Mat Cummings and Chris Sullivan, owner of KCM General Contracting, collaborated on the rehabilitation of the house, along with master woodworker Jim Whidden .
Built in 1737, the house is not a First Period (1625-1725) home. It is still considered historically valuable, however, and there are elements in its oldest section that were taken from a First Period home, including beams and a fireplace.
As additions were made over the years to what began as a two-story, two-room home, the prevailing architectural styles of the day were employed, so it features Federal, Greek and Georgian details.
The Historical Society has been handing out the preservation award since 1992. Mary Conley was a former town historian and preservationist who was heavily involved in renovations to the Choate Bridge, among other projects.
This is the second time in five years one of Cummings' projects has been named. The first was for the restorations he designed for the Abraham Knowlton House at 16-18 County St. in 2003.
The award will be presented at the Aug. 4 selectmen's meeting.







