Needham Community Education

On November 7, 1876, twenty-five-year-old Edith Hemenway married twenty-six-year-old W.E.C. Eustis. A year later Edith gave birth to twin sons Frederic and Augustus. Shortly thereafter the couple began to build their family home on land given to them by Edith’s mother, Mary Hemenway. This large estate was one of the most complete units for independent living of its time. Its acres of forest, ponds, brooks, fields, gardens, pastures, and lawns provided the needs of the family and staff. The estate had its own water supply, ice supply, dairy barn, pig barn, chicken houses, greenhouses, fruit orchards, and stables. In later years, the Eustis Estate even generated its own electricity. During the tour through the mansion and gardens, you will learn about the Gilded Age in this incredible home decorated in the height of the Aesthetic Movement style. The guide will discuss the Eustis family, the staff working on the estate, the architecture, and grounds, and there will be time to view the current exhibition. Limited to 12.