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124 FEDERAL STREET
Built for Jonathan Ropes, Merchant
1784
Rear ell erected f()r Joanthan Waldo, Merchant
c. 1807
124 1/2 Federal Street built for Benjamin Shreve, Purveyor of !"inc Goods
c. 1877
Research by: Donna Vinson
October, 1995
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�124 Federal street
built in 1784 for Jonathan Ropes, Merchant
(rear ell erected for Jonathan Waldo, Merchant, circa 1807)
124 1/2 Federal Street
built for Benjamin Shreve,
Purveyor of Fine Goods,
circa 1877
One Lynn Street
built for Jonathan Waldo,
Merchant,
by 1811
History of the structures:
The early Federal house presently bearing the address 124
Federal Street was built in 1784 for Salem merchant Jonathan Ropes
on or near the
11
100 poles" of land bequeathed to him by his father,
John Ropes, Jr., in 1754 along with "a mansion house, shop and
barn''·
The younger Ropes made few changes to his estate until
after 1780 when he tore down the "ancient" homestead and began
aguiring adjoining northerly properties along the
11
new road" (Lynn
Street) lately laid out by his neighbor Benjamin Goodhue.
By 1783,
he had consolidated the property on which he would construct his
new house in the following year. 1
Jonathan Ropes bequeathed his entire estate to his only
grandchild, Jonathan Waldo, in 1799.
Waldo's professional
occupation was that of an apothecary, but he referred to and
conducted himself primarily as a "merchant" and also had many parttime public pursuits.
In the 1790s he served successively as a
i
Essex (South) County Registry of Deeds, Book 139, leaf 229
(October 15, 1782), and Book 141, leaf 35 (May 30, 1783); Salem Tax
Valuations, 1784-85; James Duncan Phillips Library, Peabody Essex
Museum, Salem, Massachusetts.
�town official, major of the militia, and overseer of the repairs of
Fort Pickering.
Several years after receiving his inheritance,
Waldo increased the assessed value of the Federal Street house by
either erecting or extending the rear ell along Lynn Street in
order to open a shop.
In their valuations of 1807-1810, Salem's
tax assessors indicate quite clearly that Waldo's new shop is
located in his house, not adjacent to it.
In 1810-1811, Waldo was
assessed for an additional store, referred to as "a brick store" in
mortgage deeds of 1811, 1813, and 1818.
Presumably this structure
is the present-day One Lynn Street, possibly built by Waldo's
neighbor Nathaniel Chamberlain, a noted Salem bricklayer. 2
After the death of Jonathan Waldo in 1817, his heirs
bequeathed the entire estate, referred to as "a certain messuage
consisting of a dwelling house and the land under and adjoining and
the brick store and all other buildings thereon, bounding southerly
on Federal street seventy-eight feet more or less, easterly on Lynn
Street one hundred and four feet more or less, northerly by land
late of David Bancroft deceased about one hundred thirty-five feet,
westerly partly by land of Ebenezer Shillaber deceased and partly
by land of Nathaniel Chamberlain about one hundred and eighty feet
or however otherwise bounded or reputed to be bounded" to John
Holman of Salem, a mariner, who occupied the house until 1830 and
owned the property until 1832.
In the early 1830s, Holman appears
Essex County Probate File #24175; Salem Tax Valuations,
1799-1813; ECRD Book 199, leaf 173 (April 15, 1811); ECRD Book 200,
leaf 215 (April 5, 1813) ECRD Book 216, leaf 298 (September 19,
2
1818).
�to have removed both himself and his business from Salem to New
York, and consequently he conveyed "a certain messuage consisting
of a wooden dwelling house and Brick House and barn and land under
and adjoining the same .... situated at the corner of Federal Street
and Lynn Street" to the Reverend John Brazer, pastor of the North
Church, in 1832. 3
John Brazer and his large family owned and occupied 124
Federal Street, then designated alternatively 50 or 52 Federal
Street, until the Reverend's death in 1845.
Based on the tax
assessments, there were no changes made to the existing structures
of the estate during this time.
The following year, Brazer's heirs
transferred the property to Thomas Perkins of Salem, a relatively
wealthy shipmaster and merchant. 4
It is during Thomas Perkins' possession of 124 Federal Street
(1846-1876) that the·present-day One Lynn Street, the brick house
adjoined to the wooden rear ell of the dwelling house on Federal
street, is officially listed as a separate structure in the Salem
Tax Valuations.
There is no evidence, however, that the brick
building (with no address) was used as residence but rather as a
warehouse or store for storage and/or display of Perkins'
substantial goods in stock.
The structure was certainly
embellished during this period, as its assessed value increases
considerably, as does that of the main house.
Perkins likely added
Essex County (South) Registry of Deeds, Book 216, leaf
299 (September 19, 1818); ECRD Book 263, leaf 230 (May 7, 1832).
3
Salem Tax Valuations, 1820-1848; ECRD Book 373, leaves
122-124 (October 24, 1846).
�the Greek Revival entrances and bay windows to both structures at
different periods in his thirty-year occupation. 5
The west wing of 124 Federal Street, or 124 1/2 Federal
Street, was built after the Perkins heirs conveyed the property to
Benjamin Shreve in 1876.
Shreve, "importer of French goods,
watches, and jewelry" and founder of Shreve, Crump & Low in Boston,
purchased the Perkins estate as an addition to his many rental
properties in Salem.
The first tenant of 124 1/2 Federal Street,
Samuel Pitman, a currier, appears in the 1878 Salem Directory.
In
that same year, Franklin Tyler, a "morocco dresser" is listed as
living in the house on "Lynn near Federal" and William H. Carter,
an importer of wines in Boston, takes up residence in 124 Federal
Street shortly thereafter. 6
124 and 124 1/2 Federal Street were occupied by a succession
of tenants, both short-term and long-term, during the Shreve
family's ownership (1876-1929).
The main house's occupant of
longest duration was Frederick Broadhead, an insurance broker
(1901-1917), while Frank A. Laws, a professor at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, lived in the addition from 1907 until
1920.
In 1929, the trustees of Benjamin Shreve's estate conveyed
"the property now numbered 124 and 124 1/2 Federal Street and
Number One Lynn Street" to Rebecca Dembofsky of Salem, a mortgage
broker and real estate agent who partitioned the estate and
5
6
Salem Tax Valuations, 1848-1855.
ECRD Book 2802,
Directories, 1876-1884.
pages
557-558
(May
30,
1876);
Salem
�promptly sold off its component parts in the following year. 7
The Cooke sisters, purchasers of 124 and 124 1/2 Federal
Street in 1930, lived at the latter address and leased out the main
house.
David Limauro, a physician, lived and practiced at 124
Federal Street in the early forties and this use continued after
Dr. Melvin Goodman and his wife Alyce purchased the property from
Florence and Lilla Cooke in 1945.
The Goodmans owned, occupied,
and practiced in 124 and 124 1/2 Federal Street for nearly fifty
years, after which its present owners purchased the house from the
executor of Alyce Goodman's estate in 1995. 8
History of the property:
The land on which 124 and 124 1/2 Federal Street and One Lynn
Street were eventually built was part of the original seventeenthcentury land grant of Richard Bishop (d. 1674-75), which was
conveyed successively to his son Thomas and grandson Richard
Bishop.
Robert Kitchen purchased the Bishop property in the early
1690s, and quickly turned it over to Joseph Neal, one of the
largest landowners in the neighborhood.
Neal possessed the
property, which adjoined his "mansion house" on the main street
(Essex Street) for several years, after which it was transferred to
7
ECRD Book 2826, page 427 (November 1, 1929); ECRD Book
2845, page 508 (May 17, 1930); ECRD Book 2843, page 518 (May 3,
1930); Salem Directories, 1884-1930.
ECRD Book 3415, pp. 457-460
13053, page 179 (June 6, 1995).
8
(June 15,
1945);
ECRD Book
�the Ropes Family. 9
The Ropes brothers, John Jr. and Samuel, built and possessed
half-interests in a house and outlying buildings on their property,
all of which was conveyed to Jonathan Ropes in 1754.
After the
laying out of Federal Street (after 1766) and Lynn Street (after
1780), Ropes greatly enlarged the property, probably with the aim
of increasing its access to the North River.
A representative
purchase came in 1782, when Nathaniel Lang of Salem, a silversmith,
conveyed to Jonathan "a certain piece of land adjoining a new road
lately laid out by Benjamin Goodhue junior from the new street in
said Salem so called down to the water side".
Additional parcels
of land (on the western side) were added to the property after the
construction of the new Federal house in 1784 and its additions by
both Ropes and his heir, Jonathan Waldo.
There were few or no
changes made to the property for most of the nineteenth century,
until Benjamin Shreve added the circa 1877 addition to the main
house.
The division of the Ropes/Shreve estate came in 1930, when
124 and 124 1/2 Federal Street became legally separated from One
Lynn Street. 10
Transfers of title:
Essex (South District) Registry of Deeds, Book 216, leaf 299
ECRD Book 9, leaf 69 (December 22, 1691, February 7, 169293); ECRD Book 17, leaf 33 (June 4, 1695); ECRD Book 21, leaf 164
(November 7, 1709).
9
ECRD Book 139, leaves 228-229; see enclosed plan of "Land
of Rebecca Dembofsky, Salem, Mass., Jan. 1930 11 , ECRD Book 2838,
pages 25-30).
10
�Grantors: Charles F. Waldo of Charleston in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, Edw~rd w. Waldo of Salem in the County
of Essex, Merchant, Mary R. Waldo of said Salem, Spinster, and
Henry s. Waldo of Boston in the County of Suffolk, Gentleman
Grantee: John Holman of Salem, Mariner
Consideration: $4030
Conveyance of: "a certain messuage situated in Salem aforesaid
consisting of a dwelling house and the land under and
adjoining and all the buildings thereon, bounded .... on Federal
Street and Lynn Streets .... "
Date recorded: September 19, 1818
ECRD Book 263, leaf 230
Grantor: John Holman of Ithaca, New York, Trader
Grantee: John Brazer of Salem, Clerk
Consideration: $3800
Conveyance of: "a certain messuage consisting of a wooden
dwelling house and Brick House or barn and land under and
adjoining with all the buildings thereon, the forementioned
is situated at the corner of Federal Street and Lynn Street
in Salem aforesaid .... 11
Date recorded: May 7, 1832
ECRD Book 373, leaves 122-124
Grantors: James W. Cheever of Salem, Merchant, Guardian of
John Brazer, William Brazer, Anne Brazer, and Edward Brazer,
minor children of th€ Reverend John Brazer, late of Salem, and
Mary Brazer of Salem
Grantee: Thomas Perkins of Salem, Master and Merchant
Consideration: $3750
Conveyance of: "a certain messuage situated in Salem .... on the
corner of Federal and Lynn Streets .... "
Date recorded: October 24, 1846
ECRD Book 2802, pages 557-558
Grantor: Thomas Perkins, Executor of the will of Thomas
Perkins, late of Salem
Grantee: Benjamin Shreve of Salem
Consideration: $9105
Conveyance of: 124 and 124 1/2 Federal Street; One Lynn Street
Date recorded: May 30, 1876
ECRD Book 2826, page 427
Grantors: Octavius B. Shreve of Salem and the First National
Bank of Boston, Trustees under the will of Benjamin Shreve,
late of Salem
�Grantee: Rebecca Dembofsky of Salem
Consideration: $16,000
Conveyance of: "the property now numbered 124 and 124 1/2
Federal Street and Number One Lynn Street in Salem"
Date recorded: November 1, 1929
ECRD Book 2843, page 518
Granter: Rebecca Dembofsky of Salem
Grantees: Susie J. and Lilla Cooke of Lowell and Florence
G. Cooke of Salem
Consideration: paid
Conveyance of: 124 and 124 1/2 Federal street
Date recorded: May 30, 1930
ECRD Book 3415, pages 457-460
Granters: Lilla Cooke and Florence G. Cooke of Salem
Grantee: Melvin Goodman of Boston
Consideration: paid
Conveyance of: "the land with the buildings thereon situated
on 124 - 124 1/2 Federal Street in Salem"
Date recorded: June 15, 1945
ECRD Book 13053, page 179
(Fiduciary Deed)
Grantor: Louis Kolow of Newton, temporary executor of the
will of Alyce Goodman, late of Salem
Grantees: Kevin and Deborah A. Guinee
Consideration: paid
Conveyance of: 124 and 124 1/2 Federal Street
Date recorded: June 9, 1995
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P.O. BOX 865 SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS 01970 I PHONE (508) 745-0799 I FAX (508) 744-8255
February27, 1996
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Guinee
124 Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Guinee:
As you are aware, WGBH had retained Historic Salem to do a house history of your property which is a
regular service we provide. At the time the history was completed, no plaque was requested.
We typically charge an additional $75.00 for the painting and installation of house plaques.
(
In appreciation of the wonderful restoration which you have undertaken and the fine example of quality
restoration which was represented to the national viewing public, we would like to extend to you a plaque as
a gift. Please give Alice Clarke a call at our office (745-0799) to arrange for it's installation.
Sincerely,
~
John M. Wathne
President
J
�October 25. 1995
Mr. Bruce Irving
Producer. This Old House
WGBH
125 Western J\ vc.
Boston, !Vii\ 02134
Dear Bruce:
At long las!, the house report you've been waiting for on 124 Federal St. Tiiank you for
your patience. Fortunately the turn-around time for painting the plaque is «:1uut (\\ll
weeks. Please remit the $75.00 balance and we will get our painter going.
Sincerely,
Debbie I lilbert
Office Staff
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Federal Street
Historic Salem, Inc. House History
A resource made available by Historic Salem, Inc. detailing the history of Salem's houses.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
124 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970
Subject
The topic of the resource
House history
Description
An account of the resource
Built for Jonathan Ropes 1784
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Historic Salem, Inc.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Historic Salem, Inc. house histories
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Historic Salem, Inc., Salem Historical Society
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1784, 1995
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Donna Vinson
Language
A language of the resource
English
124
124 Federal
1784
Federal
Jonathan
Jonathan Ropes
Ropes