The Samuel Philbrick House

Samuel Philbrick bought this house, built in 1821-22, in 1829. In 1837 he hosted the first recorded anti-slavery meeting in Brookline. A group of Brookline ladies was invited to hear the Grimke sisters speak against slavery. John Greenleaf Whittier hid in a closet outside the parlor to hear the sisters' presentation to the female audience. Many escaped slave received hospitality and protection at 182 Walnut Street, including the Crafts. Many visiting abolitionists were also Philbrick's guests. Not all Brookline residents supported abolitionism. At one point, the Selectmen denied the use of Town Hall for an Abolitionist meeting. Samuel Philbrick quit the First Parish Church of Brookline when it objected to a young black girl, who Philbrick was sheltering, taking a place in the Philbrick pew for Sunday service.  The house was originally built for the Tappan brothers, of whom Lewis became well known nationally for his anti-slaver  work including on the Amistad case.

182 Walnut St on a map.