History

The David Tilden House at Pequitside Farm in Canton has been a part of our heritage for almost three-hundred years. Step back three centuries to the wilderness of Dorchester. A young settler from Scituate begins to build a home for his wife in the wilds of the Ponkapoag Praying Indian Plantation, along Pequit Brook.

Portions of the homestead were built perhaps as early as 1709 and the main structure was largely constructed in 1725. This historic site still stands on the original tract of land deeded to David Tilden by the Ponkapoag Indian Tribe. The Tilden House is located in the Canton Corner National Historic District on what is now Pleasant Street.

The complete ownership timeline is a fascinating study in the three centuries of ownership of the property.

The failure to adequately rehabilitate this valuable architectural resource will likely result in the loss of yet another cultural asset in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Town of Canton is convinced that our present is so much the richer because of a vibrant association with the past. We know that you share that vision. And we ask your support in making the vision of the David Tilden House a reality. - Victor DelVecchio, Former Selectman and Canton Resident

David Tilden's view from his front door.

Architectural Significance

There are approximately three hundred surviving first period (pre 1725) dwellings surviving in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
There are many period elements that help tell the story and evolution of this structure.

The Tilden House is a rare survivor that encapsulates a first period room within its north elevation. This remarkable room includes heavy bevel chamfered detail return with lamb's tongue chamfer stops.

The south elevation interior rooms contain significant raised field panels in the Georgian Style, and small quirk bead sheathing in the Federal Style.

Overall, the setting, resting on a small knoll overlooking the meadows of the Pequit Brook make this view one of the rare untouched and preserved Colonial views in Massachusetts. The view from the door at the Tilden House is almost exactly as David Tilden would have seen it almost 300 years ago.

We invite you to discover more about the architectural and historical significance of The David Tilden House and the people who have lived there.

It would be a tragedy to lose this unique window into the past and the link it provides us to our history and the development of our region. - Mark Driscoll, Canton Resident