Watertown in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

The Shick House & Farm

The Schick House & Farm Marker image. Click for full size.

Courtesy State Representative Watertown, Steve Owens

1. The Schick House & Farm Marker

Inscription. On this site stood the Shick house and farm. Jacob and Mary Shick were two of the first Jewish settlers in Watertown, becoming an integral part of the ethnic and religious diversity that marks its history. The Shicks made their home here for nearly 100 years, from 1914 to 2002. The house was built in the early 1850s. Its Italianate characteristics included richly ornamented windows, doorways and porches, block-like massing and heavy brackets in the eaves, rounded windows, 10-foot-high ceilings, as well as intricately detailed plaster work and cast-iron and marble fireplaces. A gently curving stairway to the second floor dominated the entrance hall.

The Shick family operated one of the first Jewish dairy farms in all of New England. They started in the West End of Boston, providing milk to their neighbors. They built the business into one of the largest dairy farms in the state, with over 200 head of cattle at its peak. Even after the farm itself moved to Wayland, family members lived in the house until 2002.

Erected 2022 by Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation and the Historical Society of Watertown.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture.

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In addition, it is included in the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.

Location. 42° 22.058′ N, 71° 8.938′ W. Marker is in Watertown, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. Marker is on Grove Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 183 Grove St, Watertown MA 02472, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sir Richard's Landing (approx. ¾ mile away); Gen. Henry Knox Trail (approx. 0.8 miles away); Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House (approx. 1.3 miles away); Emery T. Morris (approx. 1.4 miles away); Harriet A. Jacobs (approx. 1.4 miles away); Near this spot… (approx. 1½ miles away); The Founding of Newtowne / Newtowne and Cambridge (approx. 1½ miles away); Washington Passed This Place (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watertown.

Also see . . . New Marker Recalls Former Home of First Jewish Dairy Farmers in Watertown and the State.

A shiny, new blue sign with gold lettering now sits feet away from where a farmhouse stood for about 170 years. The historical marker is the only reminder of the home owned by the family that ran the first Jewish-owned dairy in Massachusetts
Photographed By Bob Bloomberg

2. The Shick House & Farm Marker
and of Watertown’s rich agricultural history.

(Submitted on July 5, 2022, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2022, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 268 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 5, 2022, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. 2. submitted on July 20, 2022, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide view photo of the marker and the surrounding area together in context. • Revision of the marker's coordinates. • Can you help?