The Pickering Mansion

A spacious Classic Revival home originally built by Aaron Pickering is locally known as “the Pickering Mansion.” Part of the Unitarian Church trust fund, it is provided nearly rent free ($1 per year) to the church’s pastor and his family.   The house is graced by tall columns on a wide front porch that overlooks the river and the now burned mill. The furnishings are rather old, and some are quite worn. This furniture probably should have been replaced from the church’s operating fund, as advised by the trustees, but Pastor Barnes chose to spin the money into the town account to help with the budget.   Pastor Barnes is usually gone most of the morning attending to church and town matters and doesn’t return home until 1 p.m., when he prepares himself a lunch of canned soup. Most days he spends his afternoons reading, then prepares himself a simple dinner before retiring early. If Barnes is at home when the visited, he invites guests in for tea and sits down to chat with them. If Barnes is not home the front and back doors are locked and all the windows latched.