47 Summer Street Form B inventory formThursday, April 14, 2016 at 2:21: PM
Inventory No:SAL.1141
Historic Name:
Common Name:Downing, John W. House
Address:47 Summer St
City/Town:Salem
Village/Neighborhood:Central Salem
Local No:25 -578
Year Constructed:r 1835
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s):Greek Revival
Use(s):Single Family Dwelling House
Significance:Architecture
Area(s):SAL.HU: McIntire Historic District
Designation(s):Local Historic District (3/3/1981)
Building Materials(s):
Roof: Asphalt Shingle
Wall: Wood Clapboard; Wood Flushboard; Wood
Foundation: Granite; Brick
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Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125
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FORM B - BUILDING
Massachusetts Historical Commission
Massachusetts Archives Building
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, Massachusetts 02125
LHD 3/3/1981
Assessor's
Number
USGS Quad Area(s) Form Number
25-578 Salem HU 1141
Town Salem
MlUlJh I??, Place (neighborhood or village)
Central Salem
47 Summer Street
Residential
1830-1840's,
Possibly 1836
Visual Assessment and
See Bibliography*
Greek Revival
ct/Builder
r Material:
Foundation Granite (Front),
Brick (Other Elevations]
Clapboard/Wood
Asphalt Shingles
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures Bay
window on the 2nd level (late 19th C.I)
Major Alterations (with dates)
Condition Good
yes Date
3,116 SF
Recorded by: Susan Ceccacci, Roger Reed
and Dianne L. Siergiej
Organization: Commonweal Collaborative
Date:
Setting Set behind a small planted area
on the SW corner lot of Summer and Gedney
.,„ .... Streets, in a densely-settled, mixed-use
July 1995 * «tC/t|\/FlD nei9hborhood of 19th & 20th-C. buildings.
SEP 2 9 1995
MASS. HIST. COMM.
c
BUILDING FORM 47 Summer Street
See continuation sheet. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION _
Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of this building in terms of other buildings
within the community.
This two-and-a-half-story, three-bay, side-entry, gable-front house has a
matchboard main facade and full pediment in the gable. It has a one-
story, gable-roofed, rear ell and a three-faceted bay window that projects out
at the second-story level above the main entrance. Window frames are molded
and window sash are 6/6. Remnants of what apparently was a
pilaster/architrave/cornice door frame survive around the recessed entrance.
They include slim, fluted, Doric pilasters and part of a frieze. The cornice
top was removed for the application of the bay window above. The six-panel
door has heavy molding in the style of the mid and. late 19th century. It is
surrounded by a transom and 3/4 length sidelights. Although the gable-front,
side-entry house form, the facade pediment, and the features around the main
entrance are Greek Revival in inspiration, they still have some of the
lightness of the Federal style
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE See continuation sheet.
Explain its associations with local (or state history Discuss the history of the building
of the building and the role(s) the owners/occupants played within the community.
Include uses
This Greek Revival town house with its side hall plan and gable end to the
street is a type of dwelling common in small New England towns throughout the
1830's-1850's. Since the building is shown on this site on the 1851 city map,
it is likely that this house was built by that date. The owner at that time
was J. W. Downing. In the 1866 directory, Mrs. John W. Downing was listed as
living at 14 Salem Street, so it is not clear if J. W. Downing lived here
previous to that.
The directory for 1869 records Eben Putnam at this address, but no occupation
was given. He left the house to his wife, Elizabeth, and it belonged to her
estate by 1897.
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES See continuation sheet.
*Salem Directories, 1866, 1869, 1878, 1888-89, 1897.
Beers, D. G. & Company, Atlas of Essex County, Massachusetts,
*Hopkins, G. M. & Co., Atlas of Salem, Massachusetts, 1874.
*McIntyre, Henry C. E., Map of--the~-eitv of Salem, Mass, 1851.
Richards, L. J., Atlas of the City of Salem, Massachusetts....,
1897.
Sanborn Map Company, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Salem,
Massachusetts 1890 New York, Sanborn Map Co., 1890.
Sanborn Map Company, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Salem, Mass.,
1906, New York, Sanborn Map Co., 1906.
Sanborn Map Company, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Salem, Mass.,
1906 to Feb., 1950, New York, Sanborn Map Co., 1950.
Walker Lithograph and Publishing Company, Atlas of the City of
Salem, Massachusetts, 1911.
Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places;
If checked, see attached National Register Criteria Statement form.
1872.
IISSION
Boston
bant to: J^^y^Name
2. Town_
tliCt
with the
side)
rT
ation
tiy
>wn/City
Original Use f-ioHE
Present Use
Present Owner
Date Style
Source of Date <T U psr —3<?x? vec ^IA.
Architect
Deteriorated Moved Altered
IMPORTANCE of site to area: Great Little None SITE endangered by_
4. DESCRIPTION
FOUNDATION/BASEMENT: High fiegula^ Low
WALL COVER: Wood/>y ^.';
STORIES: 1,12-3 4 CHIMNEYS: 1234
ATTACHMENTS: Wings Ell Shed Dependency
PORCHES: 1 2 3 4 Portico Balcony
Material:
Brick Stone Other
Center End Cluster Elaborate Irregular
Simple/Complex
Recessed
ROOF: Ridge Gambrel Flat Hip Mansard
Tower Cupola Dormer windows Balustrade Grill work
FACADE: Gable End: ^ronp^Side Symmetrical/Asymmetrical Simple/Complex Ornament
Entrance:C~Fro^/Side Centered Double Features:
Windows: Spacing:'^egu^j^/lrregular Identical/Varied _
Corners^^Phain) Pilasters Quoins Obscured
OUTBUILDINGS LANDSCAPING
5. indicate location of structure on map below 6. Footage of structure from street
Property has feet frontage on street
1+1 -51 | Recorder
^UM.M&I^ For NOV 1967
If ¥ Photo 0 3
5» <3
NOTE: Recorder should obtain written permission from Commission or sponsoring organi-
zation before using this form. (See Reverse Side)
FORM - MHCB - 1 0M-6-66-9430I 7
\_ * 9tL-\\i\\
FOR USE WITH IMPORTANT STRUCTURES (Indicate any interior features of note)
Fireplace
Stairway
Other
GIVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE OF SITE (Refer and elaborate
on theme circled on front of form)
S.H.D.S.C., Vol. Ill, P. in, RatinS 2, Period: GR
is probably a later addition." E ble end* The BA3' WIND°"
REFERENCE (Where was this information obtained? What book, records, etc.)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Original Owner:
Deed Information: Book Number Page , Registry of Deeds
(