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COVER STORY At home in 1795 General Sylvanus Thayer birthplace, Braintree     MORE INFORMATION The Thayer birthplace is at 786 Washington St., off Route 3 and within walking distance of the Braintree MBTA Red Line station. It's open weekends 12:30-4:30 p.m. April to mid-October. Admission is $2; $1 seniors and children. 781-848-1640. This restoration of a late 18th-century rural homestead is so authentic and the depiction of domestic life so vivid, you'll feel like you're in a time warp. The Braintree house is the birthplace of General Sylvanus Thayer, known as the "father of West Point" for revamping of the military academy when he was superintendent from 1817 to 1833. Thayer, born in 1785, spent his first nine years here. Operated by the Braintree Historical Society, this trove of authentic antiques and household items evokes the daily routines and customs of the era. In the master bedroom where Thayer was born hangs a "courting mirror" from 1795 inlaid with pearls and colored stones. Brian Kolmer, Society executive director, explains on the tour that the prospective groom would present the mirror to his intended. If he saw her smiling reflection, it meant she accepted his proposal. If she turned the mirror on its face, it was bad news, and hence the phrase, "turning down a marriage proposal." An example of the high-quality antiques is an elaborate, oak press cupboard built in Newbury in 1683. Only three are in existence, one in the Museum of Fine Arts, according to Kolmer. Among the comprehensive collection of kitchenware are two-prong forks, which were easier to make, Kolmer explains. Books, including an old family Bible, are stored in a wooden box, easier to save in case of fire. Typically imported from England, books were treasures in those days; it was cheaper to rebuild a house than to replace a library.

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