60 View Street

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In 2011, I fell in love and purchased an H.M Francis home (built in 1904) in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. The Victorian home needed some affection and fixing up so I decided to devote much of my creative efforts into restoring it back to its original condition one room at a time. My goal is to transform it into a home/museum and Artists-In-Residency for my family, friends, and the community so many could experience this magnificent home. I was also inspired by American sculptor, H.C. Westermann and Native American Folk artist Rolling Thunder, both of whom created their home as an artwork. 

Henry Martyn Francis
1836-1908
H. M. Francis was born in Lunenburg in 1836. In 1858 he graduated from Lawrence Academy. He assisted in surveying for the Croton River aqueduct which supplied water to New York City. He then studied architectural drawing and served an apprenticeship under Alexander R. Estey, a Boston architect. Later in 1862 he was employed as a carpenter in Lunenburg, Westfield, and Florence. In 1864 he worked in the architectural offices of George M. Harding of Portland, Maine and George F. Meacham of Boston. He designed buildings in Portland, Maine after the great fire of Portland in 1866. Later in 1868 he opened his architectural firm on Main Street in Fitchburg. The firm would later include his sons, Frederick L. and Albert F. in 1902. He died in 1908. With his work he has left his mark through his designs of churches, public buildings, and many houses throughout Fitchburg as well as some other parts of New England.

This bronze plaque featured here is part of a city program to help celebrate cultural history of Fitchburg. The plaque will serve as a marker on churches, commercial, and residential structures designed by the H. M. Francis architecture firm. The winning logo design was created by local artist Anne Giancola.