What to name the ‘Phelps House’ in Portsmouth?

Town seeks suggestions from residents

Posted 5/8/19

PORTSMOUTH — The circa-1925 dwelling on the corner of Linden Lane and Glen Farm Road has been unofficially referred to as the "Phelps House" due to its association with Mason Phelps, a member …

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What to name the ‘Phelps House’ in Portsmouth?

Town seeks suggestions from residents

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — The circa-1925 dwelling on the corner of Linden Lane and Glen Farm Road has been unofficially referred to as the "Phelps House" due to its association with Mason Phelps, a member of the Taylor family who owned the property before it was acquired by the town.

Now the town is asking residents what they think the property’s “official” name should be.

Several names have also been suggested:

• the “Arthur Daniel Howell House” or "Superintendent's House" in honor of the Glen Farm Estate farm superintendent who lived in the dwelling for more than 40 years

• the “Glen Farm House” which refers to the larger town-owned Glen Farm property

• the "Mason Phelps House,” which refers to the owner of the property (although he never actually lived there)

• the "Red Cross House,” which refers to the limited association of the house with the Red Cross hospital that was in the horse barns during World War II

The Portsmouth Historical Society has gathered information on the property — it leads to the Glen Farm Stables on the east end of the Gardner Seveney Sports Complex — that’s available on the organization’s website here.

In addition to the historical context of the name, the marketing perspective may also be an important consideration since the town is thinking about using the property as a revenue-generating enterprise, such as a bed and breakfast.

The public can suggest names and provide comments on the survey form here. Hard copies of the survey are also available at the town clerk’s office at Town Hall.

For more information contact Rich Talipsky, the town’s director of business development, at rtalipsky@portsmouthri.com or 401/643-0382. 

Glen Farm, Phelps House

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