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 located at 117 Cabot Street in downtown Beverly, Massachusetts. It was built way back in 1781 by a successful businessman and ship owner. This house was special because it was the very first brick mansion in Beverly! Today, it belongs to an organization called Historic Beverly, and you can visit it almost every day. It became a recognized historic place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
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What Does the House Look Like?
The John Cabot House stands in the middle of Beverly's busy downtown area. It is on the east side of Cabot Street, which is a main road. The house is three stories tall and made of wood, but its outside is covered in red bricks.
Cool Architectural Details
The roof of the house is flat on top, which is called a "truncated hip roof." The front of the house has five windows across each floor. These windows have special brick designs above them. There are also brick lines that separate each floor.
The windows on the third floor are a bit smaller. They are right under a fancy decorated edge of the roof. The main front door sticks out a little. It has small windows on the sides, decorative columns, and a fancy top part. Inside, the house has a central staircase. Most of the original wooden decorations are still there, showing a style from the late 1700s.
History of the John Cabot House
The John Cabot House was built in 1781. It was the first mansion in Beverly to be made of brick. A man named Capt. John Cabot had it built. He was born in Salem in 1745.
Who Was Captain John Cabot?
Captain John Cabot was a very important person in Beverly's history. He owned ships and was a "privateer." A privateer was like a ship captain who was allowed by the government to attack enemy ships during wartime. He also helped start the Beverly Cotton Manufactory. This was America's very first cotton mill, which made cloth from cotton.
The House Becomes a Bank
In 1802, the John Cabot House became the first office for the Beverly Bank. This bank is one of the ten oldest banks in America! Captain John Cabot was one of the seven people who helped start this bank. When it became a bank, a two-story wooden part was added to the back of the house.
What You Can See Today
Today, when you visit the John Cabot House, you can see rooms that look just like they did long ago. There are also special exhibits about ships, military history, and even things for children. Historic Beverly also has its research center here. This is where people can learn more about the history of Beverly.
Other Historic Places Nearby
- John Balch House, another historic property owned by Historic Beverly.
