19-21 HIGH STREET - BUILDING INSPECTION r -19-2i-High St.
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No. 153L
HASTINGS. MN-LOS ANGELES
LOGAN ON-MCGREGOR. TX U. S A.
In July, we gave him a permit to restore a historic
building at 21 High Street .
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PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF MUSEUM
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CHARLES F. BATCHELDER GILBERT R. PAYSON�
RECORDING SECRETARY 'Wi I�\I
SUMNER APPLETON WELD S P O ASSISTANTDIRECTOR
NE ABB ABBOTT LOWELL CUMMING9
LIBRARIAN
ROBERT E. MOODY
DIRECTOR AND
�yT1p CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
TREASURER EDWARD L. BIGELOWgg�'b BERTRAM K. LITTLE
HARRISON GRAY OTIS HOUSE
141 CAMBRIDGE STREET, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02114
TELEPHONES 227-3888, 227-3887, 227-3880
A PRIVATE CORPORATION OF A CHARITABLE NATURE, CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING AND
PRESERVING FOR POSTERITY BUILDINGS. PLACES AND OBJECTS OF HISTORICAL AND OTHER INTEREST
FOUNDED BY WILLIAM SUMNER APPLETON
October 6 , 1967
Mr. Daniel O'Brien
Superintendent of Buildings
City Hall
Salem, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. O'Brien:
Last winter the Society purchased the two houses at 19 — 21
High Street for permanent historic preservation, and since then
has nearly completed the remodelling of the smaller of the two
houses into pleasant living quarters .
The larger of the two was built in the third quarter of the
17th century and so it is one of the oldest surviving buildings in
Salem. The previous owner, before he hold it, had taken a lot of
later material out of the house preparatory to putting apartments
in it. In so doing he revealed the very interesting framework of
a 17th century house. Because of the importance and interest of
this in the history of the architecture of this country we do not
want to cover the framework up again but rather to preserve it ex—
posed in place so it can be seen and studied by future generations
of architects , historians and other interested people.
To accomplish this safely and effectively we propose to leave
the existing Lally columns in place supporting the old framing and
to install any others which might be necessary. for safety. We -
will remove all existing wiring and piping and install new wiring
as necessary to provide light for the interesting aspects of the
old framing. No plumbing or heating will be put in. We propose to
leave open the space where the chimney was removed and install rail—
ings around the well as necessary for the safety of the visitors.
On the outside we propose to reclapboard the building, install new
sash, and to reroof it with asphalt shingles. In all the work we
would adhere strictly to the building code with the advice of our
architect, James Ballou of 125 Derby Street, Salem.
Mr. Daniel O'Brien -2- October 6, 1967
When the work is completed the larger building would be open
to the public at certain times by appointment. The caretaker
who would show the exhibits would live in the smaller house.
We would be glad to supply any other information which might
be useful pertaining to our plans for the building.
Sincerely yours ,
Abbott Lowell Cummings
Assistant Director
THE SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION
OF NEW ENGLAND ANTIQUITIES m PM N
141 Cambridge St. .-
BOSTON, MASS. 02114
Mr. Daniel O'Brien
Superintendent of Buildings
City Hall
Salem, Massachusetts