By Maribeth Conway
The Patriot Ledger
Posted Apr 22, 2010 @ 07:42 AM

SCITUATE — Schoolchildren and history junkies will have a new place to stop on a historical tour of Scituate. The town is preparing to buy one of its oldest and most legendary homes from a resident. The 17th-century house, at 6 Jericho Road, was home to “The American Army of Two,” two young women who warded off a British attack by playing “Yankee Doodle” during the War of 1812, according to David Ball, president of the Scituate Historical Society.

“If there is a house in Scituate that needed to be saved, this is it,” Ball said.

The current owner, Yvonne Twomey, grew up in the home and has no heirs in line, so she decided to sell to the town.

“It’s give-back time,” she said. “I did it as generously as I could.”

During the annual town meeting last week, residents unanimously authorized using $350,000 in community preservation funds to purchase the home.

The current assessed value of the property is $473,900, according to the Scituate Community Preservation Committee’s website.

According to the historical society, Rebecca Bates, 21, and her sister, Abigail, 16, saw a British ship headed into the town’s harbor from Scituate Lighthouse, where their father was the lightkeeper. This likely occurred in early September 1814, Ball said.

The British had previously visited Scituate on June 11 of that year, demanding food and water. After the locals refused to comply, the troops set fire to boats in the harbor, Ball said.

When the Bates women saw the British off the coast, they hid behind cedar trees, then grabbed a fife and drum and played “Yankee Doodle” – a song the British hated,” Ball said.

He said the British heard the music, probably assumed that American troops had gathered, and sailed away.

Twomey’s grandfather purchased the home more than 100 years ago from Lorenzo Bates, a nephew of Rebecca and Abigail.

“I don’t like to sound too mushy, but I just love this house,” she said.

Because the home is on the harbor, Twomey was intent on protecting the house from developers.

“Like any old house, it has a limited number of closets,” Twomey said. “You can’t bank on someone just loving it as is.”

The historical society will manage the property much like other town historical spots such as the Mann House, Scituate Light and the Lawson Tower, with the house open to the public on select days.

The town’s purchase is expected to be finalized within a year, but Twomey, 84, can continue to live in the home as long as she wishes.

When she no longer lives in the home, the town will rent it to a tenant willing to properly maintain the home. Rental income will fund home maintenance and capital expenses.