Devlin Manor

From DevilshireWiki

Devlin Manor
Devlin Manor was constructed after the Revolutionary War by Ezekiel Devlin, grandnephew of Sherman Devlin.
Owner	Devlin Family
Founded	1786
Address	Jefferson Blvd and Franklin St. Devilshire, MA 01938

Devlin Manor

Devlin Manor is one of Devilshire's most fascinating historical buildings. Begun after the Revolutionary War and completed in 1786, it is still being used by the town's founding family as a residence. The house is a three storey, three bay Georgian manor, with 17 bedroom suites, a vast basement, reception rooms, bars, a professional kitchen, an exquisite garden, marble fireplaces, high ceilings, and polished mahoghany doors. The rooms are luxuriously and tastefully decorated in the Georgian style, with sculptures, vases, and paintings of the local flora and fauna as well as Devlins past and present.

The Devlin family occasionally allows free tours of the house and grounds, particularly in the summer months.

History

As family patriarch, Sherman Devlin was not only powerful, but a well-known philanthropist; it was he who provided the land and funds for the founding of Devilshire College (later Devilshire University) in 1705. His children lived in his immense, controlling shadow for a long time. When he finally passed, there was a mad scramble for power that was won by his son Achilles. Ezekiel Tamerlane Devlin was 18 when his father Joshua (one of Sherman's nephews) died in a presumed attack by bandits not too long before Achilles became the family head.

The death of his father greatly affected the young man, by all accounts. Ezekiel suddenly became quite ambitious and bold. He became independently wealthy through investements in the shipping business, and when Achilles suddenly became unable to deal with the day to day pressures of the family interests, Ezekiel took over as head of the family at the age of 40. To secure his legitimacy, he married one of his cousins, Achilles' daughter Dorcas.

It was the early 1770s when Ezekiel assumed leadership of the family, and he threw in the lot of the Devlins with those rebelling against Great Britain in the Revolutionary War. Not only did members of the family serve in the Army. The tiny port of Devilshire was an excellent resource for smuggling in guns and other war materiel for the patriots. Of course, Ezekiel carefully saved the profits made; he was stockpiling for the defense of the family and his own personal goals. His plans came to fruition after the War ended, as he poured his money into the building of Devlin Manor. It took three years to construct the stately three storey Georgian residence and the servants' housing, and to landscape the grounds.

Rumors

It is rumored that there are secret passageways throughout the building, allowing stealth and escape to those who know where the hidden doors are located. It is also rumored that strange lights and sounds were experienced at the time of the ground breaking and when the Manor was completed.

Photographs

Note: the real life inspiration for Devlin Manor is Moyglare Manor in Ireland, a manor hotel that is ironically run by a Mrs. Norma Devlin. Coincidence? You decide.