329 Essex Street inventory formTuesday, March 15, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Inventory No:SAL.1505
Historic Name:Putnam, James S. - Balch, Frank House
Common Name:American Legion Headquarters - Greymoor
Address:329 Essex St
City/Town:Salem
Village/Neighborhood:Central Salem
Local No:26 -483
Year Constructed:
Architect(s):Putnam, James
Architectural Style(s):Italianate; Second Empire
Use(s):Clubhouse; Single Family Dwelling House
Significance:Architecture; Invention
Area(s):SAL.HJ: Chestnut Street Historic District
SAL.HU: McIntire Historic District
Designation(s):Local Historic District (3/3/1981); Nat'l Register District
(8/28/1973)
Building Materials(s): Wall: Wood Flushboard; Wood; Wood Clapboard; Glass
Foundation: Granite; Stone, Cut; Brick
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FORM B - BUILDING
m
NRDIS 1973; LHD 3/3/81
Assessor's number TJSGS Quad Area(s)
26-483 Salem HU,HJ
Form Number
1505
Town Salem
Place (neighborhood or village) Central Salem
Address 329 Essex Street
Historic Name Putnam-Balch House / "Greymoor"
Uses: Present Residential
Original Residential
Date of Construction 1872
Source City of Salem Building Permit
Style/Form Italianate
Architect/Builder unknown
Exterior Material:
Foundation Granite, Brick
Wall/Trim Wood Board, Wood Clapboard
Roof
Outbuildings/Secondary Structures
none
Major Alterations (with dates) none
\
Condition good
Moved |X] no Q yes Date
Acreage less than one acre
Setting set on corner lot in a densely-settled, primarily
residential neighborhood of 18th and 19th century
buildings
AUG 0 5 199f°^ow Massachusetts Historical Commission Survey Manual instructions for completing this form.
MASS. H!RT. COMM.
Recorded by Lisa Mausolf
Organization Salem Planning Department
SeEi¥Ef>il 1997
(
BUILDING FORM
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION
Describe architectural features. Evaluate the characteristics of the building in terms of other buildings within the
community.
"Greymoor" is an impressive Victorian-era mansion which Tolles describes as "the most ambitious and outstanding residence
of its era in Salem" (Tolles: 176). The two-story building is capped by a truncated, hip roof and embellished by a wide
variety of decorative details influenced by the Second Empire and Italianate styles. The building rests on a foundation
consisting of granite blocks with smooth margins on the facade and brick elsewhere. Above a wide molded watertable, the
walls are sheathed in horizontal wooden boards which are incised to resemble stone. Marking the corners are two-story,
paired pilasters which are fluted at the top and incised by decoration. At the top of the pilasters are small columns resting on
pedestal spools. The cornice is decorated by a pearl molding, modillions and paired brackets with pendant ends. The arched
dormer which breaks through the roofline above the entrance is also supported by detailing which echoes the tops of the
pilasters. The roof is punctuated by tall brick chimneys and is capped by a turned balustrade and skylight.
Centered on the three-bay facade is a projecting entrance porch supported by six free-standing and two attached chamfered
posts with incised decoration. The posts rest on paneled bases and are capped by fluted capitals which support an ornate,
bracketed frieze. Capping the porch is a balustrade with corner posts capped by urns and spanned by turned balusters. An
iron grill at the street leads up the stairs to the ornate double-doors which are capped by a semi-elliptical fanlight.
The first floor facade windows contain 2/2 sash with an arch over the upper sash and the base of the window resting directly
on the wide watertable. Paneled pilasters support the entablature lintel which is embellished on the ends and in the center by
consoles and modillions. The lintels on the second story windows are arched with a less bold surround and small brackets
supporting the sills. Above the entrance there is a set of two arched windows with segmental hood molds which are capped
by a central low arch. Centered in the dormer above is an oculus window with keystone and sill.
The east elevation facing Cambridge Street is divided into three sections by two-story pilaster strips which are capped by
capitol-like blocks decorated by incised ornament. Windows include those with entablature lintels, as well as semi-circular
and segmental caps. Punctuating the roof are segmental arched dormers. Projecting from the west elevation is a two-story
pedimented projection punctuated by segmental openings on the upper level and entablatured windows on the second. At the
rear is a two-story, clapboarded addition with paired brackets.
Extending behind the main block is a central projection capped by a pediment and a two-story flat-roofed addition resting on
a brick foundation. Windows include a stained glass pane and windows capped by rectangular label molds with stops. The
rear entrance containing a four-panel door with two-light transom. The flat doorhood is supported by a bracket and is fronted
by wooden stairs. A modern greenhouse is located on the second story. The basement entrance is topped by iron cresting.
The house is located at the southwest corner of Essex and Cambridge Streets. The acute angle formed by thejyncture of the
two streets leaves a small triangular area to the northeast of the house, filled with small trees. A box hedge runs along
Cambridge Street. Granite curbing runs along Essex Street with low bushes filling in the shallow area between the house and
sidewalk.
+ Recommended for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. If checked, you must attached a completed
National Register Criteria Statement form.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET
Massachusetts Historical Commission
Massachusetts Archives Building
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, Massachusetts 02125
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
Describe 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.
In 1872 James S. Putnam was granted a building permit for a two-story, hipped roof dwelling. Putnam constructed the house
on the site of the Benjamin Marston house, which Putnam had demolished. The property was acquired by Frank Balch in
1881. Balch was a Naumkeag Steam Co. agent whose son invented the modern x-ray machine in his home laboratory. After
Balch's death in 1892, Mrs. Balch continued to live here until 1921. The property was acquired by Post 23 of the American
Legion in 1921 and served as their headquarters until 1979. The building was restored by Donald Costin in 1979-1981
(Tolles, p. 176).
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES
City of Salem Building Permits, 1871-1889. [Salem City Hall].
Hopkins, G.M. Atlas of Salem. Massachusetts. Philadelphia: 1874.
Mclntyre, Henry C.E. Map of the Citv of Salem. Philadelphia: 1851.
Richards, L.J. Atlas of the Citv of Salem. Massachusetts. 1897.
Salem City Directories, 1836-1970.
Sanborn Insurance Maps, 1890, 1906, 1950, 1957, 1965, 1970. [Massachusetts State Library].
Tolles, Bryant F., Jr. Architecture in Salem: an Illustrated Guide. Salem: Essex Institute, 1983, p. 176.
Walker Lithograph and Publishing Company. Atlas of the City of Salem. Massachusetts. Boston: 1911.
Town
Salem
Property Address
329 Essex Street
Area(s) Form No.
HU,HJ 1505
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, Massachusetts 02125
Community Property Address
Salem 329 Essex Street
Area(s) Form No.
HU,HJ 1505
National Register of Historic Places Criteria Statement Form
Check all that apply:
ft/^ Individually eligible Q Eligible only in a historic district
|~l Contributing to a potential historic district O Potential historic district
Criteria: • A • B • D
Criteria Considerations: •ADBncnDDEDF • G
Statement of Significance by: Lisa Mausolf
Justify criteria that are checked in the above sections:
The Putnam-Balch House ("Greymoor") is an outstanding local example of late 19th century domestic architecture
constructed for James Putnam in 1872. Displaying elements of both the Italianate and Second Empire styles, the dwelling
a virtual panorama of decorative details and window types. Restored c. 1980, the house exhibits exceptional integrity of
location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. The house is eligible for the National Register
under Criterion C at the local level.
FORM B - BUILDING
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
^hcL^ In Area no. Form no.
15D^
CS
1. Town SALEM
Address 329 Essex Street
Name American Legion Headquarters
Present use Tourist Information,
Dancing School in basement
Present owner SBLEH LBG/OA)
3. Description:
Date iQll
Source_
Style Italianate
SHDSCI 1969
Map. Draw sketch of building location
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north.
Architect
Exterior wall fabric wood
A/
Outbuildings (describe)
Other features
«3 Altered
Moved
Date
Date
5. Lot size:
One acre or less
Approximate frontage
Over one acre
1001 -h
Approximate distance of building from street
10'
ODO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE
USGS Quadrant
DMHC Photo no.
6. Recorded by_ E.C.Welch
Organization
9/7/76
3.H.C.
Date
(over)
Hi tv I
MASS. HiST. C0.vi.v1. C
7. Original owner (if known) A rtjOLea. 'P, < Jbn <
Original use \ cLttJi e> &
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates (&£Z£* i JjL &• L£LL /<?<*./
/
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal Conservation Recreation
Agricultural Education Religion
Architectural y Exploration/ Science/
The Arts settlement invention
Commerce Industry Social/
Communication Military humanitarian y
Community development Political Transportation
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
K)l jjL #329 Essex Mli RATZNSt OS®. PERIOD* THIRD QUARTER.
p Ll 3 Th# Americas Legion has had its quarter* la this building since 1921,
whim they bought 1% from Pr»ak Bsich, wh) had owned it since 1331.
The building, begun in 1371 by James Putnam, is an excellent example
of the architecture of its period. It is solid end ornate, two
stories high with a msnssrd reef. The front portico is supported
by eight sciuere columns, two of which ere attached, and the lintels
over the windows have heavy pediments* An ornate, rounded fecede
gable and decorated cornice complete the ornamentation, —*
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
Mi
O
2. Towh_
Street
Name
l_WA_
Original Use_
Present Use
Present Owner_
Date 10(1 Style 3 HQ 3C — 5 eg revise.
Source of Date_
Architect
kted Moved Altered 3. UUiNiji i i\_/j.n : r,Ai;cu:i/in. ». —
IMPORTANCE of site to area: Great Little None SITE endangered by_
FOUNDATION/BASEMENT: High Regular Low
WALL COVERS Wood )
Material:
Brick Stone Other
STORIES: 1(2)3 4 CHIMNEYS: 12 3 4
ATTACHMENTS: Wings Ell Shed Dependency
jAjfV^T^
PORCHES: 1 2 3 4 <pbrtico^Balcony
Center End Cluster Elaborate Irregular
Simple/Complex
Recessed
ROOF: Ridge Gambrel Flat Hip-plansard.
Tower Cupola Dormer windows Balustrade Grill work
FACADE: Gable End: Front/Side Symmetrical/Asymmetrical Simple/Complex Ornament
Entrancei.^Fron^'Side ^entered) Double Features:
Windows: Spacing: Regular/irregular Identical/Varied
Corners: PlainC^Hasters JQuoins Obscured
OUTBUILDINGS LANDSCAPING
5. Indicate location of structure on map below 6. Footage of structure from street
Property' has
Recorder_
For
feet frontage on street
NOV 1957
Photo
NOTE: Recorder should obtain written permission from Commission or sponsoring organi
zation before using this form. (See Reverse Side)
10M-6-66-943017
FOR USE WITH IMPORTANT STRUCTURES (Indicate any interior features of note)
Fireplace
Stairway
Other
rVtTTT? A Trninir, —— - —
7
I*
i
American Legion has had its quarters in thin building nine* 1921,
•wh«n th«y sought it from Frank Baled, who had owned it since 1331.
building^ begun ia 1371 by Jaaes yutaaa, la aa excellent example
of the architecture of its period- It ia solid and ornate, two
atorisa "high with a aanaard roof, The front portico ia supported
':r/ eight square columns, two of which are attached, and the 1 in tela
•mmt the windows have hsavy p«dia«ats* An ornate, rounded facade
gable and decorated comics? complete the ornamentation»
BIBLIOGRAPHY
v
Original Owner:
Deed Information: Book Number Page Registry of Deeds
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MHC INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET
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9313 Negative number:
Accession number:
Subject:
329 Essex St., Salem, MA
Photographer:
This photograph may be reproduced only upon written permission of the
Essex Institute, Salem. The following credit line must be used either adjacent
to the production or in the caption for the same:
Courtesy, Essex Institute, Salem, Mass.
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ESSEX INSTITUTE
Collection of Negatives of Historical and Architectural Subjects
SALEM, MASS.
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MHC Inventory scanning project, 2008-2010 MACRIS No. SfrL.\^Pe>
PudhAtoM - J5alch house
SbournJ easf side on (fimbriae 5f
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Neg. no
THIS PHOTOGRAPH TS FURNISHED ,~OR
STUDY purporss only. V/PJTTEN P.^MIS-
SION MUST D: C:TA ::D FC:I ANY
OTHER USE.
ESSEX INSTITUTE SALEM, MASS.
Rear of Photo*®