Gideon Tucker House
Once a single family home this was converted in the 1900′s to condos. I was pleased to see that much of the original feel of a McIntire home was still in this now modern condo. The beautiful fireplaces and great use of space made this an outstanding home. Turning what was probably an unused or underused area (walkway) into a dining nook added much charm to this elegant condo.

Gardner-Pingree House
Owned by the PEM, this house was a treat to tour because it has been restored to its original 1805 grandeur. With no lighting and no heat you were able to better understand how life may have been two hundred years ago. Too many hand carved items to list.

photographer and date unknown

The Emmerton House
Known as the Woman’s Friend Society, formed in 1876 to help girls and women in need, is a charitable organization still helping people (and still accepting donations and volunteers). When I walked in I instantly recognized the home, it is discussed at length in a few books I own. One of it’s most notable features are the two McIntire stair cases.

John Hodges House
There was just too much to take in at this home. One of the stand out features was the staircase with it’s hand carved spindles from the workshop of Mcintire. Three different spindles per step with the base being made of two spindles one set inside the center of the other each carved as opposing spirals.

White-Silsbee House
Once again I walked into a house I have never been in but knew like the back of my hand. Most of the photos I have seen of this home were taken in 1930 but all of the relevant features have been preserved. The parlor and sitting room oppose each other with fireplaces at either end, the rooms being sectioned by a three panel foldout door. Also of note the original stove. The dining room however was magnificent. With the original wood mantle being discarded in the Victorian era, a black marble mantle was put in it’s place. Vastly surpassing the fireplace was the original 18th century French wall paper depicting the four climate regions of the earth. Having been in many of the great homes in this country I can tell you this is a rare treasure, one which needs to be preserved. It simply is breathtaking.

Forrester-Peabody House/Bertram House
Known as the Home for Aged Men, this is another example of a historically relevant home being used for charitable purposes and keeping much of it’s architectural value. I was impressed with how warm and inviting the large rooms were. It gave you a sense of how the architect envisioned the usage of space. The most impressive feature of this home had to be the massive dining room. I wonder if it originally was used as a dining room or perhaps a ballroom. The dining room ceilings had to be at least 18 feet high (the guide did not know the height) with over 1 foot high crown moldings surrounding the room. Once again I was simply awestruck. It reminded me of the Red Room in the White House which has a ceiling height of 20 to 22 feet (depending on who you believe).

Pierce-Nichols House
McIntire’s first commission at the ripe old age of 24. There is a wealth of information about this home available. It is a must see for any student of the Federal period.

Benjamin Carpenter House
Unfortunately this is the only house on the tour where I felt someone dropped the ball. While the home was beautiful, the volunteers knew nothing about any of the rooms or the pieces in those rooms. Not to dwell on the negative, the library was both comfortable and livable while also being a fine showpiece.

Cottington-Smith Assembly House
Did I happen to mention it was bitterly cold this weekend? Thankfully this house which is used as a lecture hall and meeting place was set up to serve hot tea and coffee. George Washington once danced and dined here.

Cook-Oliver House
Some wonderful examples of McIntire’s woodcarvings, both on the exterior and interior of this home. The parlor features hand-cut chair rail and the quintessential McIntire wheat sheath mantle. The original crown molding was removed in 1902 (I believe) and sold to the Metropolitan Museum in New York. If you pay attention in this home you will notice quite a few examples of modern art, an interesting juxtaposition. This home was last opened 50 years ago for the 200th anniversary of McIntire.

Dodge-Shreve House
Again we find a strong oriental influence in this home. The dining room in addition to beautiful origami swans on the dinner settings was papered with Chinese tea paper, original to the home.

Johnathan Hodges House
The only house on Chestnut Street to be built by McIntire. The volunteers in this home did a great job of explaining many of the details of this home. I was amused by the story of Capt. Hodges near demise. The use of large antique mirrors made the already spacious rooms look even bigger.

sketch of floor plan by McIntire

Robinson-Little House
Standing out from other homes on the tour the first floor of this house was remodeled in the early 19oo’s. It features a rich mahogany interior, unique as it is not wood paneling but wood veneer laid out over stretched fabric with the cross molding pieces set atop the veneer. Also standing out from other homes on the tour, the McIntire fireplaces were not monochrome but had the relief painted “Wedgwood” blue on two of the fireplaces. A bonus feature for people on the tour, the owners had a few printed out sheets and old photos describing the history of the home and a few of the relevant pieces inside.

Hamilton Hall
This year the great space of Hamilton Hall was consumed by a Christmas fair. Luckily this building is open much of the year and available for private functions.

photo from this past summer’s walking tours

Loring-Emerton House
Another condo that just changes how you think about condos. The McIntire influence on this home is evident. Walking through the portico into the foyer you are greeted by a staircase featuring the same spindle work as the John Hodges house. Once in the home I was blown away by the domed bedroom ceiling, not to mention the seamless integration of a modern bathroom and kitchen into a classical interior. One of the best features had to be the one person seating/reading nook tucked in one of the rear rooms.

Final Thoughts

As is the case each year, I had a great time. I learned so much an was inspired by what I saw. A big thank you goes out to Historic Salem Inc., all the home owners who graciously opened their homes and all the volunteers that made the event a success.

I would love to know what you thought about this years house tour.

For the past 28 years, Historic Salem Inc. (the people responsible for those cool plaques on our homes) has been organizing a walking tour of historic homes to help raise money for their organization. Let me say right up front that I am a member, choosing to join after attending a series of walking tours this summer. I felt it was $40 ( for a household membership) well spent. They do a great job for the community so please don’t be put off by their website www.historicsalem.org.

Two years ago I went on the house tour and walked through 15 homes (only 14 were on the tour but someone left a door open and next thing you know 50 people walked through their house). Most were private residences but some were public and/or notable, like the House of Seven Gables and the Home for Aged Women (a McIntire home). It is a true pleasure to see how some of the historical homes you walk by every day look inside. I often get inspired by how some people have kept up or restored their homes. I also am bewildered by some of the other things that people do to their houses. Either way its a win win for me and Historic Salem.

This years tour keeps the summer walking lecture series alive by focusing on Samuel McIntire.

McIntire: Mansions and More will be the theme of the 28th annual Christmas in Salem house tour sponsored by Historic Salem Inc. This year’s event will showcase the work of Samuel McIntire, Salem’s renowned Federal period architect and carver, in the 250th anniversary year of his birth. Fifteen of Salem’s finest properties, designed or inspired by McIntire, will be featured on this tour, which will be located in the Washington Square/Salem Common area as well as in the Federal and Chestnut Street neighborhoods which make up the aptly named McIntire District.
- Historic Salem Inc.

I know that Salem is a walking city and this walking tour is a prime example of a great way to spend a weekend day here in town. The tour runs from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday December 1, 2007 and 11:30 am to 4:30 pm on Sunday, advanced ticket holders get a Friday night bonus of five homes open just to them from 5 pm to 8 pm.

Advance tickets can be purchased at the following retailers before Thursday Nov. 29th at 5:00pm. Ticket prices are $20 in advance, $18 for HSI members and seniors.

• A Touch of the Past, 83 Washington Street, Salem
• Borders Books & Music, 151 Andover Street, Peabody
• Peter D. Barter Gift Shop, 201 Derby Street, Salem
• Waters & Brown, 281 Derby Street, Salem
• Waters & Brown, 14 Elliott Street, Beverly
• The Trolley Depot, 191 Essex Street, Salem

Tickets may be purchased the day of the tour (Saturday & Sunday) for $25 at:

• Hamilton Hall – 9 Chestnut St,
• Treasures Over Time – 131 Essex Street #4

Note:
Usually when I contribute to this site I stock the post with photos, unfortunately I am on the road now and don’t have access to last years images. I will do a follow up to this post with a selection of pictures from this years tour so stay tuned!

There is a delicate balance between knowing what to save and what to let go. I used to horde magazines, photography magazines, work-out magazines, home improvement it didn’t matter. As long as there was some information in there that I though was relevant I would keep it so I could use it some day. When it came time for me to move out of an apartment I lived in for 10 years I went through all those magazines and asked if what they had to offer me was worth me keeping them. Most of them went unceremoniously into the dumpster. When I walk about town and look at some of the older buildings I must come to the same conclusion I did with my magazines. Some of these buildings no longer have anything offer the city and must go.

So it is with the old Salem News building. At one point this building was a beautiful structure with people coming and going all day and night. It took up an entire block and was home to thriving businesses. Over the years bootblacks, pawn- brokers, tobacconists, tailors, photo studios and even an olde tyme Chinese laundry called this building home.
Old Salem News Building – date and photographer unknown

In 2001 the Salem News moved out of the old building above on the corner of Front and Washington and the Edgewater Cafe moved in. Further down Washington (on the right side of the phot0) the news building continues as a wooden structure (previously known as the Arrington Block) erected in 1874. From what I can tell, the wooden part of the News Building has been vacant since 2001. With nobody up keeping the building it has been left to rot and fall apart, becoming an eyesore in the down town area.

Salem News building today

I hate to see old buildings die but just looking at this structure you can tell it really is beyond repair. Thankfully it is not some architectural marvel, nor does it hold immense historical significance. It played a part in our down town for quite some time but its time has passed. It must go in order for the area to thrive again.

The demo crews have sectioned the area off and hopefully anything of value can be salvaged (maybe I’ll sneak in there and take a peek). The structure should be razed by the end of the year and according to the Salem News:

RCG has already started the permitting process for its new building and hopes to gets all its approvals by the spring and complete construction in 2009. Under the current plan, there will be 31 residences – condominiums or apartments – and a minimum of 36 parking spaces.

For a city to thrive, new life must be interjected to its current existence. I also feel that preserving history and remembering the past allows us to have a unique perspective on the future. So while we can mourn the passing of a piece of Salem’s history we should look forward to what will come.

Salem is attracting more young professionals and desperately needs this area of downtown to be fresh and inviting. Removing this building, acknowledging what it has given us and moving our community into a new phase of evolution is why Salem has endured for 400 years. With the right vision and sense of community perhaps it can make it a few hundred more.