Pickman-Shreve-Little House (1819)
One of Salem‘s best examples of Federal-style architecture is the Pickman-Shreve-Little House at 27 Chestnut Street. It was constructed about 1819 by master builder Jabez Smith for Dudley L. Pickman. One of Salem’s wealthiest merchants, Pickman was a partner in the firm Devereux, Pickman & Silsbee and served as a state senator. The house was in his family until 1865 and was then owned, from 1872 to 1898, by Benjamin Shreve, a founder of the Boston jewelers Shreve, Crump, & Low, which is still in business. After Shreve‘s death, the house was then home to David Mason Little, a naval architect and photographer. He published a collection of his yacht photography in 1883 called Instantaneous Marine Studies. David M. Little also served as mayor of Salem in 1900 and was the last Collector of Customs at Salem, from 1903 until the office was abolished in 1913.
My grandfather, Benjamin James Graham, was a cabinetmaker and stairbuilder. According to family records, he did some work on this house. His business was located in East Boston, MA and he worked on many beautiful and old homes in MA. I am trying to find additional proof of his work on this house and, in particular, what work he did. I am wondering if he did the beautiful work around the entrance door. At the Pierce House, in Bennington, NH I have photo documentation of his entrance-way and door there. Thank you for any information you can provide.
Sandra Waddell Martin
216 Tucker Drive
Hopkinton, NH 03229