Puritan House (1810)
The oldest brick building in the town of Gloucester is a former hotel at 1-3 Washington Street and 2 Main Street that was built in 1810. It was constructed by Col. James Tappan, a New Hampshire schoolteacher who once taught Daniel Webster. An addition in 1840 doubled the size of the building. As related in The Gloucester Book (1921), by Frank Lucius Cox, “It has been known successively as the Tappan Hotel, Gloucester House, Mason House and Puritan House, but during recent years it has not been used as a hotel. During the middle of the nineteenth century all the important social functions of the town were held at this hotel.” Winslow Homer stayed at the hotel in 1873. Today it has a sign put up in 1978 that says “Blackburn Tavern” for a former restaurant located in the building. Currently Tono Restaurant occupies the building on the Main Street side, while GAP Promo is on the Washington Street side.
Welcome back! This must have been a most impressive addition to town life when it was built. Which side is earlier?
Thanks Susan! Possibly the section on the right was earlier (judging by images at one site in the links embedded in the text), but I’m not sure.