John Ward House (Salem, Massachusetts)

Last updated

John Ward House
John Ward House.jpg
John Ward House on Brown Street
USA Massachusetts location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Salem, Massachusetts
Coordinates 42°31′22″N70°53′36″W / 42.52278°N 70.89333°W / 42.52278; -70.89333
Built1684
ArchitectWard, John
Architectural styleFirst Period
Part of Essex Institute Historic District (#72000147)
Salem Common Historic District (#76000303)
NRHP reference No. 68000045 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 24, 1968
Designated NHLNovember 24, 1968
Designated CPJune 22, 1972
May 12, 1976

The John Ward House is a National Historic Landmark at 9 Brown Street in Salem, Massachusetts, United States. With an early construction history between 1684 and 1723, it is an excellent example of First Period architecture, and as the subject of an early 20th-century restoration by antiquarian George Francis Dow, it is an important example of the restoration techniques. Now owned by the Peabody Essex Museum, it is also one of the first colonial-era houses in the United States to be opened as a museum. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

The Ward House was built in three distinct phases. John Ward, a currier by profession, built the first portion of the house in 1684. This consisted of a two-story structure with one room on each floor, and a large chimney at one end. This portion was extended by Ward to the right-side of the chimney, giving the house a typical colonial five-bay facade, with center entry and chimney. The last addition to the house was the lean-to at the rear, which gave the house a saltbox appearance, and was apparently added not long before Ward's death in 1734. By this time he was apparently sharing the house with his son Benjamin, who inherited the property. The house remained in the hands of the Ward family until 1816, when it was sold at auction as part of an estate. [4]

The buyer at auction was Temple Hardy, who lived in the house for forty years, and operated a bakery on the premises. The house was then converted to a multi-unit residential tenement, which it remained until 1910. At some point in the 19th century a wing was added to the east end of the building; this was removed before 1905. Originally located on Prison Lane (now St. Peter Street), the house was moved to its present site in 1910 by splitting it into two and rolling it on ox-drawn logs from its original site three blocks away. In 1912 the house underwent a careful restoration under the direction of antiquarian George Francis Dow. Dow's work included decorating the space to meet his conception of the use of the house c. 1700.

In 1911, parts of the house were opened to the public, becoming the first outdoor museum of architecture in the country. The Peabody Essex Museum now offers guided tours of the house. Rooms on the first floor feature 17th-century furnishings and displays in the lean-to on retail premises of the period. [4]

Description

Salem - 1820 1820 Salem Massachusetts map bySaunders BPL 12094.png
Salem - 1820

The house is a 2+12-story wood-frame structure, five bays wide, with a large central chimney and a side-gable roof. The roof of the main facade has two large cross gable sections, each with a single window; these gables were removed at some time in the history of the house, and rebuilt at the time of its restoration. The windows on the first two floors of the main facade are doubled casement windows with diamond panes (all of the house's windows are diamond-paned), except that above the doorway, which is a single window. The exterior is finished in clapboards, with very simple cornerboards and trim. The second floor extends over the first floor by a modest amount. [4]

The first floor interior is a somewhat typical center-chimney plan, with chambers on either side, and a narrow stairway rising to the second floor directly inside the front door. Both the front door and the staircase are restored elements. The room left of the chimney is the parlor, and is finished in pine. Traces of whitewash and paint are evident on the main beams, and the summer beam and posts are chamfered. The floor and some of its joists are partly original, and partly the work of the 1912 restorers. The only major structural member to have restorative work done was a post supporting the chimney girt. The right-side room, considered the kitchen, exhibits similar restorative work. [4]

On the second floor, the left chamber is the finer of the two, but is framed in oak instead of pine. The right-side chamber was left unrestored by the 1912 work, and exhibits faded wallpaper and a plastered ceiling, much as it would have at that time. The roof, although many of its framing elements are numbered in a traditional way, shows evidence of having been extensively reworked during the restoration. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of the Seven Gables</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The House of the Seven Gables is a 1668 colonial mansion in Salem, Massachusetts, named for its gables. It was made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1851 novel The House of the Seven Gables. The house is now a non-profit museum, with an admission fee charged for tours, as well as an active settlement house with programs for the local immigrant community including ESL and citizenship classes. It was built for Captain John Turner and stayed with the family for three generations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spencer–Peirce–Little Farm</span> United States historic place

The Spencer–Peirce–Little Farm is a Colonial American farm located at 5 Little's Lane, Newbury, Massachusetts, United States, in the midst of 231 acres (93 ha) of open land bordering the Merrimack River and Plum Island Sound. The farmhouse, dating to c. 1690, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968 as an extremely rare 17th-century stone house in New England. It is now a nonprofit museum owned and operated by Historic New England and open to the public several days a week during the warmer months; an admission fee is charged for non Members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairbanks House (Dedham, Massachusetts)</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts is a historic house built ca. 1641, making it the oldest surviving timber-frame house in North America that has been verified by dendrochronology testing. Puritan settler Jonathan Fairbanks constructed the farm house for his wife Grace and their family. The house was occupied and then passed down through eight generations of the family until the early 20th century. Over several centuries the original portion was expanded as architectural styles changed and the family grew.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peirce–Nichols House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Peirce–Nichols House is a historic house museum located at 80 Federal Street in Salem, Massachusetts. Designed early in the career of noted Salem builder Samuel McIntire (1757–1811), and modified later by him, the building gives a unique view into the methods and styles of McIntire. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973 for its significance as an early masterwork of one of the country's first recognized master builders. It is now owned by the Peabody Essex Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Francis Dow</span> American historian and politician (1868–1936)

George Francis Dow was an American antiquarian for the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, active in Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Whipple House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The John Whipple House is a historic colonial house at 1 South Green in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Built in the seventeenth century, the house has been open to the public as a museum since 1899 and was the subject of some of the earliest attempts at the preservation of colonial houses. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960, one of the earliest properties to receive that honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gardner–Pingree House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Gardner–Pingree House is a historic house museum at 128 Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts. It is judged to be a masterpiece of Federal architecture by the noted Salem builder Samuel McIntire, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972 for its architectural significance. It is owned by the Peabody Essex Museum as part of its architectural collection, and is open to the public for guided tours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Unitarian Church (Peabody, Massachusetts)</span> Historic church in Massachusetts, United States

The First Unitarian Church is a historic church in Peabody, Massachusetts. The wood-frame church was built in 1826, when the area was known as South Danvers. The front facade has a projecting rounded entrance hall decorated with pilasters and a heavily bracketed cornice. The main part of the facade also has pilasters rising to a pedimented gable that has large-scale dentil molding. The side walls have six lancet-style windows. The tower, which lacks a steeple, has quoined corners, and molding on the cornice of its roofline that matches that of the main roof.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingsley House (Rehoboth, Massachusetts)</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Kingsley House is a historic First Period house at 108 Davis Street in Rehoboth, Massachusetts in the United States. The oldest portion of this house is estimated to have been built around 1680, making it the oldest structure in Rehoboth. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, where it is listed at 96 Davis Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maj. Joseph Griswold House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Maj. Joseph Griswold House, also sometimes referred to as the Mary Lyon House, is a historic house on Upper Street in Buckland, Massachusetts. Built in 1818, it is one of the region's finest examples of residential Federal period architecture. It is further notable for its association with pioneering women's educator Mary Lyon, who operated a school here before establishing Mount Holyoke College. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Boardman House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The John Boardman House is a historic First Period house in Boxford, Massachusetts. Its oldest portion dates to about 1740, but has stylistically older elements. It was moved to its current location from Saugus in 1956, before which it had undergone restoration. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaac Goodale House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Isaac Goodale House is a historic house in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Built about 1700, the house has many original First Period elements, despite its relocation to its present location in 1928. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, and is the subject of a preservation easement held by the Ipswich Historic Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Hardy House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Joseph Hardy House is a historic late First Period house in Groveland, Massachusetts. Built about 1720 with plank frame construction, it is a relatively rare example of that form in the region. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Osgood House (North Andover, Massachusetts)</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Samuel Osgood House is a historic house in North Andover, Massachusetts, USA. Built about 1740, it is said to be the birthplace of Samuel Osgood, a member of the Continental Congress and the first United States Postmaster General. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John P. Peabody House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The John P. Peabody House is a historic house at 15 Summer Street in Salem, Massachusetts. Built in 1868 by Salem merchant John P. Peabody, it is a rare early example of Colonial Revival architecture. The two story wood-frame house is three bays wide, with a slate gambrel roof. The centered front door is sheltered by a portico supported by Doric columns. The second story center window reinforces focus, being enlarged slightly by sidelights as compared to the other windows on the facade. The roof is pierced by three dormers, the outer ones with pointed gables and the central one with a rounded pediment reminiscent of the then-fashionable Second Empire style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John E. Booth House</span> Historic house in Utah, United States

The John E. Booth House is a historic house located in Provo, Utah. John E. Booth was a significant Provoan, and was extensively involved in Provo's community and religious affairs. Located at 59 West and 500 North and less than one acre in size, the John E. Booth House was built in 1900, and happens to be the only 2+12-story Victorian Mansion in Provo, Utah. This house is significant not only as a Victorian mansion, but because its "Bricks were individually painted to create a variegrated design effect". The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The house was designated to the Provo City Historic Landmark Register on May 26, 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dow Academy</span> United States historic place

Dow Academy was a historic school in Franconia, New Hampshire, United States. Founded in 1884, it served as the town's high school until 1958, after which its building, a Georgian Revival wood-frame building built in 1903, became a centerpiece of the Franconia College campus. The building was converted into condominium residences in 1983; it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Peabody House</span> Historic house in New Hampshire, United States

The William Peabody House is a historic house on North River Road in Milford, New Hampshire. This 2+12-story wood-frame house was built c. 1740 by William Peabody, the first English settler of the Milford area, and remains a good example of Georgian residential architecture despite a 1973 fire. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welles-Shipman-Ward House</span> Historic house in Connecticut, United States

The Welles-Shipman-Ward House is a historic house museum at 972 Main Street in South Glastonbury, Connecticut. Built in 1755, it is a well-preserved example of Georgian architecture, with the largest period fireplace in Connecticut. The name comes from the prominent local families that owned it. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It is now maintained by the Historical Society of Glastonbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Thompson House</span> Historic house in Massachusetts, United States

The Jacob Thompson House is a historic house museum at 7 Main Street in Monson, Massachusetts. Built c. 1811-13 for a farmer and lawyer, it is a rare local example of Federal style housing with brick ends. It is now owned by the local historical society, which operates it as a museum. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. John Ward House NHL listing info Archived 2012-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
  3. John Ward House, 1684
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "NHL nomination for John Ward House". National Park Service. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
Early photo of the house John Ward House in Salem MA.jpg
Early photo of the house