Historic Buildings of Massachusetts

12 State Street, Marblehead (1747)

by Dan/December 12, 2011/Colonial, Commercial, Houses, Marblehead

According to the sign on the house at 12 State Street in Marblehead, the structure was built in 1747 by Captain Alexander Watts. From 1776 to 1803, it was owned by John Adams, fisherman and mariner, who also kept a shop in the building. The shop was continued until 1842 by his daughters, Mary and Miriam. From 1845 to 1891, the building was a restaurant, operated by John Fisher. In 1910, J.O.J. Frost, noted Marblehead folk artist, opened a bakery in the building, which has continued to house various businesses over the years. It was restored in 1988.

Grace Church, Salem (1926)

by Dan/December 11, 2011/Churches, Gothic, Salem

In 1858, a group of parishioners from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Salem established Grace Church, which would be constructed at 385 Essex Street later that year. The parishioners wanted to found a second Episcopal Church in Salem that would be closer to their homes in the western part of the city. By 1924, the original wooden Gothic building of Grace Church was deemed no longer adequate. It was structurally unsound–one could stand against the wall and shake the whole building. In 1926, a new church was built on the same site. Initial plans for a Georgian Revival structure were eventually changed and the completed church was designed by architect Philip Horton Smith in the Gothic Revival style. Three years later, the church was connected to an adjacent Federal-style residence, Burrell House, which is used as a parish house.

Burrill House (1806)

by Dan/December 10, 2011/Federal, Houses, Salem

Burrill House, on Essex Street in Salem, was built around 1806 as a residence. Known as the Ebenezer Smith House, it is unusual for its period in Salem in having brick end walls. In 1926, the house was acquired by the neighboring Grace Church for use as a parish house. Three years later, it was remodeled and physically connected to the church by architect Woldemar H. Ritter.

Dodge-Shreve House (1817)

by Dan/December 9, 2011December 9, 2011/Federal, Houses, Salem

One of Chestnut Street in Salem‘s most celebrated architectural achievements is the Dodge-Shreve House. Sometimes dated to 1817, but also to 1822-1825, the house, at 29 Chestnut Street, was built for merchant Pickering Dodge by master builder David Lord. It is similar in size and layout to the nearby Pickman-Shreve-Little House, but is a later example of the Federal-style with a greater variety of decorative details. The Dodge-Shreve House has been owned by the Phillips, Peirce, Allen, Cabot and Shreve families.

Ichabod Tucker House (1800)

by Dan/December 8, 2011/Greek Revival, Houses, Salem

Although the earliest part of the house dates to 1800 (making it the second residence to be built on the street), the Greek Revival facade of 28 Chestnut Street in Salem was constructed during a remodeling in 1846. The house was built for Ichabod Tucker, clerk of the courts of Salem, and was later occupied by the Cole and Wilson families.

Sprague-Peabody-Silsbee House (1807)

by Dan/December 7, 2011/Federal, Houses, Salem

Upper Essex Street in Salem’s most impressive three-story brick Federal-style house is the Sprague-Peabody-Silsbee House at 380 Essex Street. It was built about 1807 by Joseph Sprague, Jr.; was sold to Joseph Peabody in 1822 and occupied by his son Francis; and was owned by the Silsbee family from 1840 to 1901. The house, which has been enlarged and remodeled over the years, has interior carving attributed to Samuel McIntire.

Pickman-Shreve-Little House (1819)

by Dan/December 6, 2011/Federal, Houses, Salem

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.