The Library

The small room off the entrance hall to the northwest was, according to tradition, Governor Shirley's library. It was used for this purpose by the Eustises.

The library retains its original closet doors and trim, dado, portions of the cornice and its wood floor. The painted floor duplicates remnants of the original, which was discovered under many coats of paint during the house’s restoration.

A fireplace surround dates to Shirley's time and is one of the only two in the house that were not replaced in the Federal period.  The simple colonial revival style furnishings in the room offer a stark contrast to the ornate French furnishings which dominate the rest of the house The Windsor chair was made in New England, 1775 - 1785. The mahogany and pine slant-front desk is from Massachusetts, 1770-1790. On it are a mahogany shelf clock made by Aaron Willard (1757-1844) in Boston, c. 1800; a pair of bell metal candlesticks, English, 1770-1800; an English brass taper stick, c. 1800; and a silver inkstand, also English, 1780-1800.