1 100 1 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/28828/archive/files/6ef167ad6b51ee987de90419e3fb3b56.pdf?Expires=1779926400&Signature=YlVrYuYjpnAcHeM3N3lyn3tMHXtMCQOUa1GcQZgH5pTAaVujX148O0ZoSkOdcAH1-djJfLR0KeiB3bVvHX-1RKYMuXW%7ERNQMG1vYNMaGy9VRO1XvRXc%7E0KdYzkGQRYMwu%7ErKjen0wzbKei-3Ov-q%7Eitt3dUjJF2HFLrqKuDSP3ucMHeVdeYqTCBzyv1GFsDaqU43vLjpzYuUa0pmEAdINMcnKRu1jJb22C4CJhzXQL90AI1sB4DP9Aeu5E7i1PzV78GMgw0aYg3l1REFAyRQ8rAwZlnm49Eh4xsA4Es2mHQfJ1zbDkoZJWWRkoVKByzaE3sepsIYCaqADSVaPJD3wQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM b2b9f83f83445115d84d7a333bdbb28f PDF Text Text 1 Parker Court Built c. 1851 Built By Henry Mellus, San Francisco Merchant 8th Mayor of Los Angeles -1860 Researched and Written by Mollie Meeks, 2024 Historic Salem, Inc. The Bowditch House 9 North Street, Salem, MA., 019 70 (978)745-0799 HistoricSalem.org |2024 ��Located at 1 Parker Court in the historic city of Salem, Massachusetts, this house stands as a testament to the mid-19th century architectural and social history of the area. Built around 1850 by Henry Mellus (1816-1860), the house reflects the aspirations and life of a man whose roots were in Boston but whose career and fortune were made on the West Coast, largely in his successful endeavors as an agent, merchant and investor in San Francisco in the early 1840s. Henry Mellus purchased the land for 1 Parker Court and the surrounding lots as a strategic investment during an extended visit to the area from 1849 to 1850. Although he his wife Anita [nee Johnson], who was the sister of his brother Francis’s wife, then resided in Los Angeles, Mellus was born in Boston, and this return visit to Massachusetts saw him acquiring property with a keen eye for future returns. Notably in the 1850s, along with its successful port, Salem had also become a central railroad hub with rail line links to all the major cities of northeastern Massachusetts. This shipping and transportation connection led to enhanced prosperity in Salem and development, including housing and schools, and the Salem Willows was created as a waterside public park in 1858. The land for 1 Parker Court was bought by Mellus from Abigail Parker in 1851 as part of a larger lot that encompassed the corner with Pleasant Street. There are additional land transactions in this timeframe adjacent to the property. Mellus later sub-divided some of these lots for future development, which he sold by 1853. It’s conceivable that while building the house at 1 Parker Court, he agreed with his next-door neighbor, Albert Clapp, to certain restrictions. These conditions included restrictions on the height of Mellus’s new house to protect Clapp’s house, specifically that Clapp's attic window view remained unobstructed and limitations on the eaves to prevent them from blocking sunlight to Clapp's vegetable garden. Remarkably, these deed restrictions are still in effect today, even though Albert Clapp and his wife, who enjoyed the sunlight, are long gone. Moreover, shortly thereafter, Clapp also sold his house to Mellus As a shrewd businessman, Mellus began renting out the newly constructed house almost immediately. However, his ownership was short-lived; within three years, he sold the property. At the time, Mellus was facing health issues and decided to liquidate much of his East Coast holdings, including the properties around Parker Court. His departure from Salem in late 1850 marked a return to California, where he was elected the eighth mayor of Los Angeles in 1860, a position he held for only a few months until his death at the end of the year. The house at 1 Parker Court transitioned into a boarding house shortly after Mellus sold it, a role it maintained for many years. It became a temporary home for various families and skilled craftsmen who contributed to the local economy and community. The house's use as a boarding house reflects the broader social dynamics of the period, where such accommodations were common for itinerant workers and those seeking affordable housing. Nestled within the Salem Common Historic District, the house benefits from its proximity to that central green, an integral part of the community's historical fabric. The district itself is noted for its well-preserved architecture and historical significance, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle and urban development of 19th-century Salem. �Today, 1 Parker Court stands not only as a private residence but also as a symbol of the rich historical tapestry of Salem. Its construction by Henry Mellus, its role as a boarding house, and its preservation all contribute to its story. The house embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of its original owner, the evolving nature of urban housing, and the enduring charm of Salem's historic neighborhoods. . ��Homeowner(s) Date Purchased Years of Ownership Purchase Price Book Page Number Notes Wesley Hartwell Anne Stevenson 8/31/2020 Current $470,000.00 38883 406 Cresene Sanglap 9/2/2015 5 $1.00 34350 203 Cresene Norlock 2/28/1994 9 $1.00 12453 395 Vincent G Norlock Cresene Norlock 2/19/1992 2 $113,000.00 11179 205 Robert A Desantis Karin E Desantis 7/27/1989 3 $140,000.00 10087 72 Thomas W Casey 1/29/1988 1 $1.00 9383 441 Barbara S Casey 8/9/1970 18 $21,000.00 5704 630 The land with the buildings thereon, situated in Salem, bounded and described The land with the buildings thereon, situated in Salem, bounded and described The land with the buildings thereon, situated in Salem, bounded and described Described in Exhibit A, attached hereto and made a part hereof. Said Salem, with the buildings thereon, located at said One Parker Court, being more particularly bounded and described as follows: The land in said Salem, with the buildings thereon, located at said One Parker Court, being more particularly bounded and described. The land in Salem with the buildings thereon, situated in said Salem, bounded and �described as follows: David W Kilgore Barvara R Kilgore 1/31/1969 1 $11,000.00 5589 221 Joseph L Wilkinson Constance B Wilkinson 8/15/1961 8 Nominal consideration, taxes for 1961 4804 341 Regina Brault 8/20/1957 4 $5,200.00 4396 142 John L McKinnon Eileen B McKinnon 10/5/1953 4 Consideration is less than $100.00 4015 246 Samuel J McKinnon 4/2/1947 6 $6,500.00 3524 489 Harold J Henderson Esther D Henderson 5/10/1944 3 $2,500.00 3369 291 Salem Five Cents Savings Bank 11/05/1940 4 $1,000.00 3237 496 The land xx with buildings thereon, situated in said Salem, bounded and described as follows: The land in Salem with the buildings thereon, situated in said Salem, bounded and described as follows: The land in Salem with the buildings thereon, situated in said Salem, bounded and described as follows: The land in Salem with the buildings thereon, situated in said Salem, bounded and described as follows: The land in Salem with the buildings thereon, situated in said Salem, bounded and described as follows: The land in Salem with the buildings thereon, situated in said Salem, bounded and described as follows: The land in Salem with the buildings thereon, situated �in said Salem, bounded and described as follows: A certain lot of land with buildings thereon Charles H Estes 8/01/1924 16 $1,500.00 2606 335 Katharine F Sullivan Catherine Kelly Margaret Kelly 11/26/1912 12 $1.00 and 2186 other valuable considerations 382 A certain lot of land with buildings thereon John Kelly 7/24/1866 46 $1,200.00 707 272 A certain lot of land with buildings thereon William B Smith Samuel Hutchinson 10/22/1853 13 $910.00 485 65 03/04/1851 2 $1,600.00 441 204 A certain lot of land with the dwelling house now standing thereon A certain parcel of land situated on Pleasant Street Henry Mellus Anita Mellus Abigail Parker Referenced in 441, 204, larger lot �Directory Years Residents Occupation or Notes 1882 Edward Price clerk 1882 Eliza Price widow 1886 Frank Williams lamplighter 1876, 1878 John Joyce Grocer 1880 Frank E. Stanley Shoemaker 1881 Cyrus E. Price clerk 1857 John Burns Tinsmith 1866 Mrs. Nathaniel F. Pulsifer 1866 James S. Smith Harness maker 1872 William Carney Spring & Carney 1874 David Joyce carpenter 1874 John Kelley laborer 1876 Thomas Hamilton laborer This is an incomplete residency table to provide proof of 1 Parker Court's status as an old boarding house. �References Every family has a story. Ancestry® | Family Tree, Genealogy & Family History Records. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2024, from http://www.ancestry.com/ History hub. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2024, from https://historyhub.history.gov/welcome Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911–1915. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. Online resources A to Z. Online Resources A to Z | Mid-Continent Public Library. (n.d.). Retrieved June 1, 2024, from https://www.mymcpl.org/research-and-learning/researchdatabases-a-z#N Salemdeeds.com. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2024, from https://salemdeeds.com/salemdeeds/Default2.aspx Sixty years in Southern California, 1853–1913, containing the reminiscences of Harris Newmark,1916, The Knickerbocker Press, New York Los Angeles City mayors past to present. Mayors of the City of Los Angeles, California. (n.d.). https://www.laalmanac.com/government/gl11.php Historical newspapers from the 1700’s-2000s. Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s Newspapers.com. (n.d.). https://www.newspapers.com/ Newspapers. Boston Public Library. (n.d.). https://www.bpl.org/resources-types/newspapers/ ��������������������1, rtesins. Brault, beins a widow, .s, ,.a.,1.,e.,rn... 0/____ _ _�-----------••�•�•u•�xL.._Coum)', Ma,hchu11Ctts. I;· g c:s:tieJ,for eoiukl eratlon pnJd.innttot:b: SALEM CO.OPERATIVE SANK, ilnmed in So.lci:n Essex County, M11nachu!1ClU. wtth MORTOAGE COVENANTS to K<:orc th<: poyrncnt o<----------------------- - Dollar� Fift.y ho liUndr 192 witb inm�st tbcuoo . pipblt ;'1 coi:s-:cutive monthiy p;iymwts, dtui.ng tbc term of lhi.:s morttaigt, (which P3-ymtou 11b2tl bo! lim awlied to inttrts.t :utd the 1»1.lJl« ,bm·.1f ttt ,cmaiiraU\g appJitd to pritt<ip.d) .lll :is provid�-d in tho: nott of evtn d;,tt, ;and w-c-h fu.rtb-u sums u may� adT.10,ud by tht G,ut�t undcc- G:n.trJI l,.lwl, Ch11pm 133, �a-ion 28A, or A,� i.n =odm�ttt or cxwuion thucof. for which tbis m.01tJ?;J1t� is ginn :Ill coU,uu.:-l ttcurity. the 1..ind, with tbt buildings tbcm>n. sltuaitcd in said Salem, bounded and deecriCed a& followe: lioTthweeterly by Parker Court thirty-eix l36J feet,. one (1) inch; Southweaterl)• by land now or late of Coughlin fifty .. four (64} feet, •1ght \8/ inchee; Southeasterly by land now or late ot Stocker $bout twenty-ont \21) feet, three (3) inches� Northeasterly ty l�nd now or late of Clapp thirty-eiT. (36) feet, biX (6) inches. Subject to reetrictions in deed reccrded with �aaex South District Detds, Book 70?. Pa,ee 2?1, &o far a� now in force end applic&ble• .Beine the enme prell':ioee conYej:ed to me by deed of John L. JlcKinnon et ux .• to be recorded herev.ith. lQdudi.ng u pan of tbe ruJty, aH portabk or ll!:ctio-it&I 00.ildi.r.gs al uy tiim ph<td upon 3aid pttm.i.ses utd all (urn.uo. rJ.Oi(.l. huttJJ, plombing. g:u and dtttric fi.xtU('C$., r.ctttM, n)lnl�b. si,adu. Ktttll doors. '10rm doors and \\ ' indows, oiJ bs.m:u:n, gas bornt:s and all othtt fixtutu of wh3t,:,\•tc klnd :i.nd nt1ru.re .:-t pttscn.l ot b«tl'ftcr i.n.st')t1('d in Qt on the grat1ttd prtmi�• fo any tttltlnu whkh rtodus si;r.b artidts as.;blc in c.01 :u1tt1ion ttwnwit'b � far :1s I� umt art ot can by Oli[R'Ctnff.t of pa.l'liA?J, bt n,.W.r a p�n of the tuity. Thii mongag� i i '11-pon tbt ftatutory CQndition �nd upon the !urthtrconc;iit-ions that tfN ptQvilions of Citn• «-JI bw" Chapm )70 (Act3 of 1950. Chapter )71) at'ld ,H\f anttndmcnt3 c.bmof sh.ill u ail.I timu bt e<1m­ pli::d witb"and uprm the fu.rdlli?r «:>(ldi1i 0n tb2t tht mortg.:-zor s1iall pay to dx mortg.a.i:« ml,'lnthly, in aiddition co .all othcc- p.1ynin($ btNiabtf o:c set forth, an .:-mouat t(I\U1 10 onc-cwdftb 0/12) of tht lut anno:i.1 tJX bU1 to,•�(i.ag s:iid proputy, wbic;b lltnount ,hill be appli,td by the mOrtlOl&N: to the P3fJl'ltl)t of U..Xf:S when th,y s. b.llJ b\;00-nttdut. and any b;:ib,ncc d'U tbtrtott 3b,.,U be paid by du rr;ortgagor as pcovidtc! for bt $.:-id :1otu.tory ronditio1u: the amo11nt to bt paid fot u.xn s,baJJ bt adjusted io Novtmbt.t of cad, Jtar b;111,1;d on tbt ux biU for thu yc•ribis mortgage is upon ibc forlht:r condition$ that th< m.ongagor sha.lJ lm·p t�c b�ldinGS now Cit htrtdm standi n g oo uid bind Ul!-u.nxl agair.st firt aod (wbeo rcq;uircd by rh• mortsagtt) �JSQ agait,at ot.be:t C�'QaltM:S and r ontit!gencU:s:, io 11,1fl'1$ sawfactory to th< .rnongagct; and all i.dsutaiou upoo s:i.id build.WP sbaU ht fos tbt btadit of, and fi.tst p;iy,1blt- in �;is,e c,f lo.sa to the roo(tgagtt, aod tlN: rn�tpgot WU dtpOSit all of ni.d .nso i ta.DQe p:iti• du with the. mottgag,tt. Thit mortgage is s11bJcct to l\iusKb(l3r:tlll Gcnml l.awJ, Ch.1-pm 170 aod otbtr appliubk bws: is nib.. �c to cb.1ngu, ftom rime to time, as p.rovid«t by s:1id Cbapm 170, Stttion 24, Sub•!lttcion· 8, u amendro: and ia •ubjm to 2dditiona.l loain, on tl1t stcnritY tbrnClf, 2$ provu:kd by Grotr-al Uws, Cha.pm IU-. Section 28A. Ham.end«!. ������������������������� 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 Parker Court 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 1 Parker Court, Salem, MA, 01970 Subject The topic of the resource House History Description An account of the resource Built c. 1851 Built by Henry Mellus San Francisco Merchant 8th Mayor of Los Angeles -1860 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. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Built circa 1851 House history completed 2024 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Mollie Meeks Language A language of the resource English 1 Parker Court 1851 2024 Henry Mellus Los Angeles Massachusetts Mayor Mellus merchant Salem San Francisco