Historic Highfield, Inc.

The story of Highfield Hall coincides with the arrival of the railroad in Falmouth on July 18, 1872. The ability to reach Cape Cod from Boston or from New York by train transformed the area from a quiet farming and fishing community to an exuberant summer community. Middle class families stayed in inns, many of them homes converted to lodgings to handle the explosion of summer visitors. Wealthier families built seaside estates in areas such as Quissett, Chapoquoit and Penzance.

Among the newcomers escaping the heat of the city were the Beebes of Boston. James Madison Beebe, wealthy from various dry goods and manufacturing businesses, and his wife, Esther E. Beebe, first converted the Thomas Swift House on Shore Street to a summer home they called Vineyard Lodge. They subsequently bought more than 700 acres of land on the hill above the railroad station, more than half of which has been preserved as Beebe Woods.

After the death of their father in 1875, his children built two grand residences on the hill. Brothers Pierson and Franklin and sister Emily built a lavish "summer cottage" in the Queen Anne stick style modeled after the British Pavilion in the great 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Highfield Hall was completed in 1878, and its sister mansion, Tanglewood, where the J. Arthur Beebes took up residence, was finished in 1879. Thus began over fifty years of Beebes living and entertaining in their "summer cottages" at Highfield. In its heyday, the hill must have been a bustling scene. The miles of carriage trails, riding trails, gardens, two huge homes, and numerous outbuildings required a small army of servants to maintain. The Beebes even started a farm on Shore Street to provide produce for their Falmouth and Boston residences.


Highfield Hall, built in 1878	Tanglewood, completed in 1879

The Beebes were undoubtedly a formidable family. The children made an impact on Falmouth with their financial support for the building of St. Barnabas Church on Main Street (1890) in memory of their parents, St. Barnabas House (1890), a carriage shed (1894) for the church which in 1962 was converted into a garden chapel, and conversion of the Bodfish House into the Rectory (1901). For some years in the 1880s, the Beebes were the largest taxpayers in Falmouth.

Franklin, the last of the Beebe children, died in 1932. After that, Highfield Hall passed through a succession of owners, each with a dream for its use. First, in the thirties, E.H. Bristol wanted to turn it into a health resort. That was succeeded by two dreams in the forties: J. Elwin Wright, a religious revivalist, wanted it to become a religious hotel and retreat. Subsequently, Arthur J. Beckhard ran the two mansions as hotels and converted the former stable into what is now Highfield Theater.

The Ter Huens and the Decline of Highfield Hall
In 1949, the entire Beebe estate was purchased by DeWitt Ter Huen, a Texas oil man, who dreamed of turning it into a center for the performing arts. The Ter Heuns added the Southern plantation-style front. They spent much of their time at Highfield, hosting theater companies, workshops, and classes; for many summers all of Tanglewood and part of Highfield served as dormitory space for cast and crew.

The front of Highfield Hall, modified by the Ter Huens

After DeWitt's death in 1962,the estate was eventually purchased by developers who wanted its considerable acreage for a housing development, but home and grounds were rescued in 1972 by Josephine and Josiah K Lilly III. The Lillys generously gave the nearly 400 acres of Beebe Woods to the town for permanent conservation as green space. The buildings and acreage on which they stood were donated to a local arts organization.

Sadly, on May 20, 1977, Tanglewood succumbed to the wrecker's ball and bulldozers, and Highfield Hall entered two decades of neglect and vandalism.

Historic Highfield Volunteers at Work

In 1994, the residence almost suffered the same fate as Tanglewood. However, the Town of Falmouth had instituted a demolition delay bylaw, which mandated a 90-day period after application for demolition of any historic building so that the local Historical Commission could attempt to effect a preservation compromise. An advocacy group, Friends of Highfield, sprang into action to save the building. That group became this 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, Historic Highfield, Inc., in May 1994.

In 2000 Town Meeting Members authorized Falmouth Selectmen to take Highfield Hall and six acres by eminent domain, and in 2001 the Town signed a lease with Historic Highfield to renovate and operate Highfield Hall. No town monies were used for the acquisition of the property, or for the restoration of the building.

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Restoration

The restoration of the building began in the summer of 2001. The first four years of restoration concentrated on making the building water tight by installing a new red cedar roof and repairing windows and doors. A new septic system was installed, restrooms were completed, interior rooms were returned to their original configurations, and some foundation work was completed. In the fall of 2005, the final construction push began. The building was entirely cleared, a new foundation was poured to shore-up the historic rubble foundation, and windows and doors were completed. All new systems were installed in the building include a fire suppression system, HVAC, electrical wiring, and plumbing. An elevator and handicap ramps at the front and rear of the building made the structure completely handicap accessible. In September of 2006, the first floor of Highfield Hall was completed and our grand opening was celebrated in high style with a week of events, programs, and concerts. By April of 2007, the second and third floors had also been completed and Highfield Hall opened for its first full year of operations. The fall of 2007 brought the completion of a brand new parking area and path system. The restoration of the landscape will be the next project undertaken as we work to implement a master landscape plan completed by well-known landscape preservationist, Lucinda Brockway. A campaign to fund the master landscape plan will move forward in the spring of 2008.

Love the finishes, wallpapers or paint colors at Highfield Hall?
Click here for our FINISHES BROCHURE listing paint colors,
wallpaper patterns, paint techniques, and our restoration contractors.

How to Get Involved
We appreciate all offers to volunteer or donate towards making Highfield Hall a vital town asset that serves its residents and visitors.

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