On the National Register, in the Historic District of Rocks Village, The Ingalls-Colby house is also known locally as “The Countess House”. This historic colonial within site of the Merrimack River is actually two houses containing four bedrooms and 2.5 baths. The back section, circa 1700, faces the river and has two large fireplaces each with a working bake oven, and a small fireplace in the upper, master bedroom. The front section, circa 1800, faces East Main Street. It is much more formal with high ceilings, crown mouldings, period windows, and unique louvered shutters which slide into wall pockets.
Over the past 10 years, the house has been painstakingly restored to period with hand-plastered walls, hand-rubbed floors, restored windows, and newly painted walls and woodwork throughout. The kitchen, with its large fireplace has old random width pine floors, hand plastered walls, an old pantry with built-in shelves, and old small pane windows overlooking the perennial beds and large lawn. New appliances, fixtures, tiger maple counters and new, custom kitchen cabinets make this central area a livable and popular spot all year long.
All bathrooms, (two upstairs and a powder room downstairs) have been restored, repainted, and updated with new fixtures, including pedestal sinks and glass shower doors. The basement is full under the main house with city water and 200 amp service and the property includes large gardens, stone walls, and a detached garage/workshop. The following quote from John Greenleaf Whittier refers to two famous occupants:
“I inscribed this poem (The Countess) to Dr. Elias Weld of Haverhill (Rocks Village), Massachusetts, to whose kindness I was much indebted in my boyhood. He was the one cultivated man in the neighborhood. His small, but well-chosen library was placed at my disposal. He is the “wise old doctor” of Snow-Bound.
Count Francois de Vipart with his cousin Joseph Rochemont de Poyen came to the United States in the early part of the present century. They took up their residence at Rocks Village on the Merrimac, where they both married….”
Count de Vipart married Mary Ingalls, who lived at 29 East Main Street and at 21 she became the Countess. As well as being linked with Whittier, the house served as a veritable palette for Rufus Porter who, in the 1820’s, painted both colorful and monochromatic murals in the house. The murals are noted and shown in The Architectural Heritage of the Merrimack by John Mead Howells. Views from The Countess House 12 over 12 windows reveal the other lovely historic homes in the village, the old Hand Tub firehouse, and seasonal views of the Merrimac River.
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