John Cabot House facts for kids
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John Cabot House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 117 Cabot Street Beverly, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1781 |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian/Early Federal |
| Part of | Beverly Center Business District (ID84002313) |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000246 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 16, 1975 |
| Designated CP | July 5, 1984 |
The John Cabot House is a really old and important house in Beverly, Massachusetts. It's located right in the middle of downtown at 117 Cabot Street. This house was built way back in 1781 for a very successful local businessman and ship owner. It was actually the first brick mansion ever built in Beverly! Today, a group called Historic Beverly owns it, and you can visit it almost every day. This special house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, which means it's recognized as a very important historic site.
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About the House
The John Cabot House stands in the busy downtown area of Beverly. You can find it on the east side of Cabot Street, which is a main road. It's located between Central Street and Franklin Place.
What It Looks Like
This house has three stories and is made with a strong timber frame. Its outside is covered in red bricks. The roof is a special kind called a "truncated hip roof." The front of the house has five sections with windows. These windows have cool brick designs above them.
You'll notice brick lines separating each floor. The windows on the third floor are a bit shorter. They fit right under a fancy, detailed roof edge. The main front door sticks out a little. It has side windows, columns, and a decorative top. Inside, the house has a classic central staircase. Most of its original wooden parts are still there. They show a heavy style popular in the late Georgian period.
History of the John Cabot House
The John Cabot House was built in 1781. It holds the record for being the first brick mansion in Beverly. It was built for Capt. John Cabot, a wealthy ship owner and privateer. He was born in Salem in 1745.
Captain John Cabot's Role
Captain John Cabot was a very important person in Beverly's economy. He helped start the Beverly Cotton Manufactory. This was America's very first cotton mill! He was a big part of making the town's economy grow.
A Bank's First Home
In 1802, the John Cabot House became even more famous. It served as the first office for the Beverly Bank. This bank is one of the ten oldest banks in all of America! Captain John Cabot was one of the seven original directors of this new bank. At that time, a two-story wooden addition was built onto the back of the house.
What You Can See Today
Today, when you visit the John Cabot House, you can explore rooms that look just like they did long ago. There are also special exhibits about ships, military history, and even fun displays for kids. Historic Beverly's research center is also located here.
See also
- John Balch House, another historic property owned by Historic Beverly.
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Essex County, Massachusetts
