Chestnut Street District facts for kids

Chestnut Street District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Looking east on Chestnut Street in the fall
Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Roughly bounded by Bridge, Lynn, Beckford, and River Sts., Salem, Massachusetts
Area	45 acres (18 ha) (original size) 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) (size of 1978 increase)
Built	1651
Architect	Multiple
Architectural style	Mid 19th Century Revival, Colonial, Federal
NRHP reference No.	73000312 (original) 78000468 (increase)
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	August 28, 1973
Boundary increase	October 4, 1978

The Chestnut Street District is a special historic area in Salem, Massachusetts. It's a neighborhood with many old and beautiful buildings. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's recognized as an important place in American history.

Many buildings here were designed by Samuel McIntire. He was a famous builder and woodworker from Salem. His designs show how wealthy Salem's merchants became from the "Old China Trade". This was a time when ships from Salem traded goods with China. The district is part of a larger area called the McIntire Historic District.

Samuel McIntire, a famous builder from Salem.

Exploring Chestnut Street's Historic Homes

The Chestnut Street District is home to many amazing buildings. Each one tells a story about Salem's past. Let's explore some of the most famous ones.

Saunders House: A Gift of Homes

The first large brick house built here was the Thomas Saunders House. It's located at 39 Chestnut Street and was built in 1805. Thomas Saunders also built the famous double house next door. This house, at 41-43 Chestnut Street, was a wedding gift for his daughters. They married two brothers, Leverett and Nathaniel Saltonstall. Leverett Saltonstall later became Salem's first elected mayor.

Hamilton Hall: A Place for Gatherings

Hamilton Hall is a very important building at 9 Chestnut Street. It was built in 1805 by Samuel McIntire. This building is so special that it's a National Historic Landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. People still use Hamilton Hall for events today.

Ropes Mansion: A Glimpse into the Past

The Ropes Mansion is a beautiful old house from the late 1720s. It's also known as the Ropes Memorial. This house is a great example of Colonial style. You can find it at 318 Essex Street. Today, the Peabody Essex Museum takes care of it. You can visit and take a tour to see how people lived long ago.

Peirce-Nichols House: McIntire's Early Work

The Peirce-Nichols House was built around 1782. It shows off amazing craftsmanship from that time. It's located at 80 Federal Street. The house was built for Jerathmiel Peirce, who owned many shipping boats. Samuel McIntire designed this house early in his career. He also made changes to it later. This building helps us understand his unique style. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1973. The Peabody Essex Museum now owns it and offers tours.

The Peirce-Nichols House at 80 Federal Street.

Stephen Phillips House: A Classic Car Tradition

The Stephen Phillips House is at 34 Chestnut Street. Every year, a classic car show is held here. This house is now a historic house museum. Historic New England owns and operates it. You can take public tours to learn about its history.

Pickering House: A Family's Long History

The Pickering House (Salem, Massachusetts) was built around 1651. It's a very old Colonial house. What makes it special is that ten generations of the Pickering family lived here. This includes Colonel Timothy Pickering. Many believe it's the oldest house in the United States continuously lived in by one family. It's at 18 Broad Street and is open to the public.

The Witch House: A Link to Salem's Past

The Witch House is also called the Jonathan Corwin House. It was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin. This is the only building still standing in Salem, Massachusetts that has direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. It's a very important historical site.

The Salem Athenaeum: A Library's Journey

The Salem Athenaeum was started in 1810. It is one of the oldest private libraries in the United States. The Athenaeum is located at 337 Essex Street. In 1905, the Athenaeum sold its old building. With the money, they built the current building. It opened in 1907.

Francis Cox House: A Mid-19th Century Home

The Francis Cox House was built in 1846. It stands at the corner of Chestnut and Summer Street. This house shows the style of the mid-19th century.

John Bertram Mansion: From Home to Library

Salem, Massachusetts in 1820.

This grand mansion was built in 1855 for Captain John Bertram. It's at 370 Essex Street. It's made of brick and brownstone in the Italianate style. When Captain John Bertram passed away in 1882, his wife gave their home to the city. It then became the Salem Public Library. The library first opened its doors on July 8, 1889.

Images for kids

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  12 Chestnut Street in 2019.