The General Glover House, also known as the Glover Farmhouse, is a 1700s colonial house, and the final home to Revolutionary War hero General John Glover, located on the Marblehead - Swampscott - Salem border.[1] The house sits on the historic 2.4 acre property, formerly known as the Glover Farm, that also contains a collection of other historic buildings representing different eras of the farms history. The site is one of the most signifcant and overlooked historic sites in the three communities, connected to many notable American figures and military heroes, with a history spanning over 300 years.[2]
The main colonial farm house was originally built in 1700s prior to the American Revolution in what was then Salem, MA.
The house was owned by William Browne of Salem.[3] From a prominent Salem family, he was a graduate of Harvard College and friend and classmate of John Adams.[4] He was a colonel of the Essex County militia in Salem, and was appointed as collector of the port of Salem.[5]
William Browne accepted an appointment by General Gage as judge of the superior colonial court. Browne was a British Loyalist, and because of his connection to Gage, he was listed on the Banishment Act of 1778 and was forbidden to return to Massachusetts.[1][6] This would lead to all his property, including the house and farmland being confiscated by the colonial Massachusetts government in 1780.[7] Browne would flee to England, and would go on to be appointed the Royal Governor of Bermuda by Lord North.[8]
John Glover paid 1369 pounds for the house and 180 acres of land to the state government.[12] As recorded in Registry of Deeds:
Resolve on Petition of John Glover, Bridagadier General in the American Army: "Resolve that the committee for selling the estate of absentees in the County of Essex be, and they hereby are authorized and directed to appoint five sufficient freeholders in said Country, who are to be under oath, to appraise that part of William Brown(e), Esqrs., estate lately occupied by Thomas Vining and others, lying in Salem and Marblehead, in said Country, and said Committee are authorized and directed to give a deed to John Glover at said appeasement of said farm in behalf of this Commonwealth, and to take in pay notes given him by this State for his wages etc., which shall become payable in March next, at the real value, and the balance if any to be paid, in current money." (February 17, 1781) [13]
Historic fireplace in the 1700s General Glover House
John Glover moved to his farmhouse in 1782 after retiring from his military service, moving both his family and business to the house.[14] While living in the house, he stayed active in politics, and was elected as a delegate to the Massachusetts ratifying convention for the U.S. Constitution, served as town selectman, and was in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.[14]
Glover would welcome the Marquis de Lafayette who came to Marblehead in 1784. He would also lead the official welcome of President George Washington in 1789, who made a special detour and came to see his old army friend and thank those who served during the war.[15][16]
John Glover would continue to live at the farm, and operate his business from the house. William Bentley would frequently join land surveys around Salem, and mentioned speaking with Glover about his proposal to build a canal via Forest River that would link his farm to the sea.[17] This would permit his vessels to unload goods in Salem and bring them up in smaller boats to his store at the farm. However this was never realized.[1] John Glover would live here the remainder of his life, until his death in January 1797.[1]
General Glover Inn brochure cover showing the historic facade of the original house.Present day facade of historic 1700s Glover House
After his death, the farm property was purchased by John Glover's daughter Mary and her husband Robert Hooper.
The farm and house was eventually sold by the Glover descendants in the late 1800s. The land that the house sat on, the "Salem Gore", would be transferred from Salem to the town of Swampscott in 1867.[18]
In the 20th century, the house eventually became the General Glover Inn, owned by shoe manufacturer A.E. Little and his wife Lillian Little from Lynn, MA.[19][20] Little was the founder of A.E. Little & Co. Shoes, maker of the famous Sorosis shoes.[21] They restored the historic house, uncovering many of the original colonial elements. They themselves would live in the transformed former barn that sits behind the Glover Farmhouse. The Inn would be part of the larger Sunbeam farm, and lasted until the 1950s.
In 1957 the house opened as the General Glover House Restaurant by Anthony Athanas[22] Various additions were added on to the main house, with the multiple dining rooms and bars themed to a colonial inn. The restaurant closed in the 1990s, and remains vacant until this day.
Threat of demolition
In 2020 the property was deemed "blighted" and the Athanas family was given a deadline to address the safety concerns of the abandoned property.[23][24]
In 2022 a 140-unit condominium was proposed by Leggatt McCall Properties to be built on the land spanning Swampscott and Marblehead.[25] The proposed site plans do not currently reflect saving the original historic 1700s farmhouse of revolutionary war veteran General Glover, or any of the other historic buildings on site.[26] In April 2023, the Swampscott Historical Commission issued a demolition delay after determining the house was historically significant and could be saved.[27]
Preservation Efforts
The historical commissions of Swampscott and Marblehead, along with other organizations including Glover's Marblehead Regiment, began working together to help save the historic military heroes home from demolition.[28][29] A survey determined the original 1700s home was still intact and able to be saved and restored. A joint preservation effort of "Save the Glover" was initiated to help raise awareness to save and preserve the historic Glover House.[30][31]In 2024, American Heritage Magazine[32] and other publications helped promote awareness of the houses history, and the importance to save the house.[33][34]
As of 2025, the historic 1700s Glover Farmhouse, along with many of the other historic buildings remain intact on the property at 299 Salem Street, but are neglected and deteriorating.[35] Recognizing the importance of the Glover Farmhouse to local, national, and military history, the Town of Swampscott allocated funding for structural engineers to come up with stabilization plan, along having a tarp placed over the roof to help prevent further deterioration.[36][37] The property is currently up for sale after the first developer walked away from the project. However, if the approved developer plans are purchased, and the buyer has no interest in making plan modifications to allow the historic military heroes house to be saved, the Glover farmhouse could be demolished.[38][37]
Historic gate posts on Glover Farm property, with the former barn and A.E. Little House beyond.Glover Farm property possibly around 1910.Statue of General John Glover in Boston, who retired to the Glover Farm after his military service.
References
1 2 3 4 Billias, George (1960). General John Glover and his Marblehead Mariners. Henry Holt and Company.
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