1-2 Griffin Place inventory formWednesday, April 06, 2016 at 11:18 AM
Inventory No:SAL.649
Historic Name:Woodbury, Ezra Double House
Common Name:
Address:1-2 Griffin Pl
City/Town:Salem
Village/Neighborhood:Central Salem
Local No:25 -114
Year Constructed:c 1897
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s):No style
Use(s):Multiple Family Dwelling House
Significance:Architecture
Area(s):SAL.HU: McIntire Historic District
Designation(s):Local Historic District (3/3/1981)
Building Materials(s): Wall: Aluminum Siding; Wood
Foundation: Brick
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This file was accessed on:
LHD 3/3/81
Assessor's Number
25-114
USGS Quad
Salem
Area(s)
HU
Recorded by Leslie Donovan
Organization Salem Planning Department
Date (month/year) 2/96
Town Salem
Place (neighborhood or village) Central Salem
Address 1-2 Griffin PI.
Historic Name Ezra Woodbury House
Uses: Present Multi-Family Dwelling
Original Multi-Family Dwelling
Date of Construction By 1897
Source City Map
Style/Form No Style
Architect/Builder Unknown
Exterior Material:
Foundation Brick
Wall/Trim Aluminum Siding
Roof Unknown
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures
None
Major Alterations (with dates)
Aluminum siding, entries and
doors, 20th Century
Condition Fair _
Moved x no yes Date
Acreage Less than 1 Acre
Setting Setback from Federal Street behind
165 Federal Street in an area of 19th C. residences
ED
Follow Massachusetts Historical Com^snoPs$%ep Manual instructions for completing this form.
£ MASS/Hisf. COMM.
Form Number
649
i
BUILDING FORM 1-2 Griffin Place, Salem
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION see continuation sheet
Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of this building in terms of other buildings within the
community.
1-2 Griffin Place was a modest Victorian building that has been altered. Set in a courtyard behind 165 Federal
Street, it is a two-story double house on a rectangular plan with its facade facing north. Eight bays wide by
approximately four bays deep, it has a flat roof pierced by one chimney at each end A brick stoop with iron hand
rails leads to side-by-side modem front doors occupying the two center bays of the first floor. Now cased in
aluminum, the doors appear to have once had transoms. The plain, symmetrical facade is clad in aluminum and
has windows with 2/2 sash.
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE see continuation sheet
Discuss the history of the building. Explain its associations with local (or state) history. Include uses of the
building and the role(s) the owners/occupants played within the community.
1-2 Griffin Place first appears on the 1897 Salem adas. Owned by E. Woodbury, the house sat on a large parcel
that also contained 165 Federal. Previous owners of the land without the Griffin Place building were H.A TutUe
(1874) and H. C. Turtle (1851). The building was still owned by the Woodbury (Mrs. Esra) family in 1911. but it
appears that they rented it. Beginning in 1897, the occupants of number 1 were Charles F. Davis, a meat cutter,
and George T. White, a shoe cutter. Al number 2 lived Leroy A Fickett, a clerk, and Fredland Bail, a carpenter
and foreman working for Hamilton and Balcomb. From 1910 and into the 1930s, 1 Griffin Place was occupied by
Mrs. Mary Foley (widow of John) who worked as a mill operator, and shared her side with various individuals.
From 1950 to the 1970s, the principal occupant was Joseph J. Seward, a leather worker. From 1910 to 1970, 2
Griffin Place was occupied by a variety of people including a currier, two leather workers, an employee of
Sylvania, a painter, and a shoe worker. The latter was Arthur Gourdeau. who resided there at least from 1950 to
1970.
Salem City Directories. 1836-1970.
Maps
Hopkins. G. M. Adas of Salem. Philadelphia, 1874.
Mclntyre, H. Map of the City of Salem. Philadelphia, 1851.
Phillips. James Duncan. Map of Salem about 1780 Based on Research by Sidney Perley and the accounts of
Colonel Benjamin J. Pickman and Benjamin F. Browne with additional information assembled by Jones Dtfltean
and Henry Noyes Otis. Salem: James Duncan Phillips, 1937.
. Part of Salem in 1700. From the research of Sidney Perley. Assembed by William W. K. Freeman.
Salem: James Duncan Phillips, 1933.
Richards. L. F. Atlas of Salem. 1897.
Walker Lithograph and Publishing Company. Atlas of Salem. Boston, MA: 1911.
)
)
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES see continuation sheet
Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
completed National Register Criteria Statement form.
If checked, you must attach a
FORM B - BUILDING
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
4. Map. Draw sketch of building location
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north.
8x2 bay-3 plate flat gable
double house
doors in 4th and 5th bays front
transom lights
2 spindly chimneys
brick foundation
In Area no. Form no.
SAM Block Lot
25 114
1. Town Salem, MA
Address 1-2 Griffin Place
Name
Present use residence
Present owner
3. Description;
Date 1896
Source Salem Street books
Style Federal revival
Architect
Exterior wall fabric aluminum siding
Outbuildings (describe)
Other features
Altered
Moved
Date
Date
ize:
acre or less 5100' Over one acre
oximate frontage set back
oximate distance of building from street
50'
|>rded by Anne Van Ingen
nization Historic Salem, Inc.
4-5-78
7. Original owner (if known)_ Ezra Woodbury
Original use double tenement
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_ same
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal
Agricultural
Architectural
The Arts
Commerce
Communication
Community development x
Conservation
Education
Exploration/
settle ment
Industry
Military
Political
Recreation
Religion
Science/
invention
Social/
humanitarian
Transportation
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
Griffin Place was laid out in 1896 by Ezra Woodbury on a lot of land
situated behind two houses that Woodbury owned on Federal Street.
(#'s 165 and 167 Federal Street). This is a two family tenement
building and was worth ^2,000 when first built. Henry P. Upham,
baker and Ferdinand Bail, carpenter, lived in the building in 1897.
0. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
-Salem City Hall Street Books 1890-1898
-Salem Atlases 1874-1897