21b5 -21-71 - Newburyport

FORM A. AREA
Assessor'sSheets USGSQuad
Form Numbersin Area
Area Letter
BA
l44e,4s1
21b5-21-71
HistoricalCommission
Massachusetts
Boulevard
Morrissey
220
etts02125
Boston,Massachus
Town: Newburyport
Place (neighborhoodor village).
Photograph
(3" x 3" or 3-I/2" x 5", black andwhite only)
Label photos on backwith town and addressesfor
all buildings shown. Recordfilm roll and negative
numbers here on theform. Staple I-2 photos to left
side rfform over this space. Attach additional
photos to continuation sheets.
roll
negative(s)
-13
Name of Area: Brown's Wharf
PresentUse: Commercial.Offices
Construction Dates or Period: earlv 19th to
present
OverallCondition:
eood
MajorlntrusionsandAlterations:
considerable
new constructionsince1960
SketchMap
Draw a map of the area indicating properties within
it. Circle and number propertiesfor which
i ndiv i dua I i nven tory form s have been compIeted.
Label streets including route numbers, if any.
Attach a continuation sheetif spaceis not sufficient
here. Indicate north.
Acreage:
Recorded by: Lisa Mausolf
Organization: Newburyport Hist. Commission
Date (month/year). July 1999
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I}ryENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SI{EET
Historical Commission
Massachusetts
MassachusettsArchives Building
220 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston-Massachusetts02 125
Town
Newburyport
PropertyAddress
Area(s)FormNo.
BA
ARCHITECTIIRAL DESCRIPTION (continued)
Partsof the largewood-frameboatshopat 58 MerrimacStreet(MHC#2972)maydateto the 1930sor 1940sbut the
in a combinationof board-and-batten
buildinghasbeengreatlyexpandedovertheyears. Thetwo-storybuildingis sheathed
l2lI2
includesa combination
of
sashand3 x 2-lightwindowswith
siding,asphaltshinglesandwoodshingles.Fenestration
largeslidingdoorson the elevationfacingthewater.
(MHC#2968)is a
since1960.TheBlackCow Restaurant
The remainingbuildingsall appearto havebeenconstructed
c.1980buildinglocatedon Brown'sWharf. Directlyto thesouththeHudsonBuildingat 38 MerrimacStreet
clapboarded
facade.The
(MHC#2965)is a two-storyblock with two concreteblocksidewalls,a metalrearelevationanda wood-shingled
with a
(MHC#2970)
metal
building
is
a
two-story
54
Merrimac
Street
at
Hilton's
lll
windows.
8/8
and
c.1980buildinghas
Yard
58
Merrimac
Yacht
at
The
Windward
painted
with
a
whale
mural.
single-storyrear addition. The southfacingwall is
by a gableroof with dormers
cot[age(tvlllc#2974)embellished
Streetincludeswhat appearsto be a c.1980wood-shingled
(MHC#2975). Thebuilding
gabled
marina
is
office
nearby
a
small
and
beams
rests
on
steel
The
building
andbay windows.
It
is setbackfrom Merrimac
building
c.1990.
brick
constructed
at 58 MerrimacStreet(1fr1c#2971)is a large,three-story
on eachlevelanda centralglazed
Streetby a parkinglot. The broadfacadestepsbackwith bandsof glazedrvindorvs
entranceportico on the first floor.
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE
Explain historical developmentof the area. Discusshow this area relates to the historical developmentof the community.
What is nolv Merrimac Street existed as early as 1645,describedas a "way to the river" and extendingfrom the foot of
Greenleaf s Lane (rvhat is norv State Street)to the foot of Ordway's Lane (the presentMarket Street).
After the year 1700 the number of wharves and docks constructedalong the riverfront steadily increased. As early as 1730,
Abiel Somerby was granted permissionto build a wharf at the foot of Ordway's Lane (Market Street)that rvas subsequently
designated"the upper long w-harf'. On the 1851 and 1872 mapsthis wharf is known as Patch's Wharf. To the south
additional rvharveswere constructed,lined by lvarehousesand dockserectedby various merchants. Horton's Wharf was
located near the end of Titcomb Street and on the 1884map was the location of the shipyard of A. Currier. Brown's
Wharves w.erelocated betweenTitcomb and Green Streets. In the early 19th century Moses Brorvn had a large lvarehouseon
the wharf at the foot of Green Street rvherehe storedcargoessuch as sugarand molasses. Moses Bror,m lvas a chaisemaker
in Ner.vburlport as earl-vas 1766. In the early to mid lgth century Piper and Hainesowned a sail loft and store on Brown's
Wharf.
In the early to mid lgth century the waterfront lvas lined by warehouses,coal shedsand maritime-relatedshops.The 1884
map showsthe shipyardof A. Currier locatedon the wharf north of Brorm's Wharves. From 1869until 1885B.F. Atkinson
and John T. Fillmore had a shipyard at the foot of Titcomb Street. This boat yard was later taken over by Capt. McKay who
movedfrom the foot of FederalStreetin the 1880s. By the time of the 1894map therewas no trace of the shipyard. Other
a riggingloft at Bror,r'n'sWharf, paint shopsand coal
maritime-relatedbusinesseslocatedin the areaincludedwarehouses,
shedsand trestles.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET
HistoricalCommission
Massachusetts
ArchivesBuilding
Massachusetts
220 MonisseyBoulevard
etts02125
B oston,Massachus
Town
Newburyport
PropertyAddress
Area(s)FormNo.
BA
ARCHITECTURAL DES CRIPTION (continued)
Partsof the largewood-frameboat shopat 58 MerrimacStreet(MHC#2972)maydateto the 1930sor 1940sbut the
building hasbeengreatly expandedoverthe years. Thetwo-storybuildingis sheathedin a combinationof board-and-batten
includesa combination
of 12/12sashand3 x 2-lightwindowswith
siding,asphaltshinglesandwoodshingles.Fenestration
largesliding doorson the elevationfacingthe water.
since1960.TheBlackCowRestaurant(MHC#2968)is a
The remainingbuildingsall appearto havebeenconstructed
c.1980buildinglocatedon Brown'sWharf. Directlyto thesouththeHudsonBuildingat 38 MerrimacStreet
clapboarded
facade.The
(l\tfrtc#2965)is a two-storyblock with two concreteblocksidewalls,a metalrearelevationanda wood-shingled
with a
(lvtr1c#2970)
metal
building
is
a
two-story
54
Merrimac
Street
Hilton's
at
1/1
windows.
c.1980buildinghas8/8 and
Yacht
Yard
at
58
Merrimac
The
Windward
painted
with
mural.
a whale
single-storyrear addition. The southfacingrvall is
by a gableroof with dormers
embellished
cottage(l\tEIC#2974)
Streetincludeswhat appearsto be a c.1980wood-shingled
(MHC#2975). Thebuilding
gabled
marina
is
office
nearby
and
a
small
beams
steel
rests
on
The
building
andbay windows.
It
is setbackfrom Merrimac
c.1990.
brick buildingconstructed
is a large,three-story
at 58 MerrimacStreet(MrHLC#2971)
on eachleveland a central glazed
Streetby a parking lot. The broad facadestepsbackwith bandsof glazedwindor.vs
portico
floor.
first
the
on
entrance
HISTORICAL NARRA'TIVE
of the community.
of thearea. Discasshowthis arearelatesto thehistoricaldevelopment
Explainhistorical development
asa "way to theriver" andextendingfrom the foot of
What is nolv MerrimacStreeteristedas earlyas 1645,described
GreenleafsLane(whatis norvStateStreet)to the foot of Ordrvay'sLane(thepresentMarketStreet).
alongtheriverfrontsteadilyincreased.As earlyas 1730,
After the year 1700the numberof wharvesanddocksconstructed
Abiel Somerbl'was grantedpermissionto build a wharfat thefoot of Ordway'sLane(MarketStreet)that rvassubsequently
"the upperlongwharf'. On the l85l and 1872mapsthis wharfis knownas Patch'sWharf. To the south
designated
anddockserectedby variousmerchants.Horton'sWharf was
linedby warehouses
wereconstructed,
wharves
additional
map
wasthelocationof theshipyardof A. Currier. Brown's
1884
locatednearthe endof TitcombStreetandon the
on
WharvesrverelocatedbetweenTitcombandGreenStreets.In theearly lgth centuryMosesBrorvnhada largewarehouse
thewharf at the foot of GreenStreetwherehe storedcargoessuchas sugarandmolasses.MosesBror.vnlvasa chaisemaker
in Nervburyportas earlyas 1766. In theearlyto mid lgth centuryPiperandHainesowneda sail loft andstoreon Brown's
Wharf.
shops.The 1884
coalshedsandmaritime-related
In the earlyto mid lgth centurythe waterfrontwaslinedby warehouses,
1885B.F. Atkinson
until
1869
mapshowsthe shipyardof A. Currierlocatedon thewharfnorthof Brorvn'sWharves.From
andJohnT. Fillrnorehad a shipyardat thefoot of TitcombStreet.This boatyardwaslatertakenoverby Capt.McKay who
movedfrom the foot of FederalStreetin the 1880s.By thetimeof the 1894maptherewasno traceof theshipyard.Other
a riggingloft at Brolr.n'sWharf, paintshopsandcoal
locatedin theareaincludedwarehouses,
maritime-related
businesses
shedsandtrestles.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET
HistoricalCommission
Massachusetts
ArchivesBuilding
Massachusetts
220 MorrisseyBoulevard
etts02125
Boston,Massachus
Town
Newburyport
PropertyAddress
Area(s)FormNo.
BA
HISTORICAL NARRATIVE (continued)
almosteverybuildingon bothsidesof MerrimacStreetfrom Winter
On May 19,1934the "Million Dollar" Firedestroyed
portion
of theDodgeBrothers'shoefactorythat survivedthe 1934fire
StreetandBridgeRoadto TitcombStreet.The only
wastle powerhouse.The shoeindustrywhichhadalreadyfallenon hardtimeswasunableto rebuild. Followingthe 1934
fire onlythe Ruth ShoeCo. at 44 MerrimacStreet(MHC#451)wasleft in business.The companyremainedthe largestand
by
busiestshoefactoryin thevicinity for manyyearsbut eventuallywentbankruptin 1963. The buildingwas purchased
Inc. in 1964.
Geonautics,
In 1934the Route I By-passwas construcredto the norttrof the studyarea,bringingadditionalautomotivetraffic to the area.
After the 1934fire a numberof auto showroomsandfilling stationswereerectedalongMerrimac Streetand Bridge Roadand
at 56, 85 and92 MerrimacStreetandon Bridge
theareawasknownas "GasolineAlley". Gasstationswereconstructed
Road. TheVolponeFord SalesRoomandGaragewaslocatedat 58 MerrimacStreetfrom the 1950suntil the early 1990s
whenthe building at Horton's Landingwas constructed.
Boatbuildingon a somewhatsmallerscalecontinuedin thewaterfrontdistrictin theearly20th century. About 1905oneof
theformerNewburyportCar Co. buildingswas reusedas a boatbuildingfacility, laterknownas EmmonsBoat Shopin
on
for boats,boatsuppliesandboatbuildingwereconstructed
1914. Additionalsmallerbuildingsservingas storehouses
McKay'sWharf. After the 1934theseearlyboatshopswerereplacedby newbuildingsservingthe samepurposes.Marine
to the Brorvn'sWharf areasas well.
activitiesgraduallyexpanded
in 1969as part of Urban
demolished
GreenandTitcombStreetsr,vere
Most of thebuildingson MerrimacStreetbetrveen
on theriverfrontproperfyownedby GeorgeHilton offMerrimac Street.The
Renewal.In 1971a restaurantwasconstructed
by Hilton, Bert ReedandMickeyVillane. Thebuildingat the cornerof TitcombandMerrimac
restaurant
was constructed
House,burnedin 1971.
Streets,knownovertheyearsastheWashingtonHouseandlaterthe Sedgewick
was
Theso-calledHorton'sLandingbuildingat 54-64MerrimacStreet(MHC#2971)containingshopsandcondominiums
area
erectedin the early 1990son the formersiteof theVolponeFordSales& Garage.In recentyearsadditionalr,vaterfront
on thenorthsideof Brown'sWharf hasbeenfilled.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATIONSHEET
HistoricalCommission
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
ArchivesBuilding
220MorrisseyBoulevard
02125
Boston,Massachusetts
Town
Newburyport
PropertyAddress
Area(s)FormNo
BA
BIBLIOGRAPHY and/orREFERENCES
1764-1906,
vols.I &2. Newburyport:1906& 1909.
Currier,JohnJ.HistoryofNewburyport,Massachusetts,
Irving, Ron. Unpublishedresearchon MerrimacStreet.
StateArchives,Boston].
Massachusetts
Divisionof lnspection.BuildingInspectionPlans. CardFile. [Massachusetts
Inventory:Newburyport.
Massachusetts
HistoricalCommission.HistoricResources
NewburyportCrty Directories,variousdates.
Photographic
Collection,PhillipsLibrary,PeabodyEssexMuseum,Salem,Massachusetts.
Somerby,Charles[., Sr. "Sagaof Newburyport'sMany SeriousBlazes",NewburyportDaily News,March22,195I.
NarrativeHistory",
Stirgwolt,Mary Jane. "HistoricalBuildingsSurveyandInventory,Newburyport,Massachusetts:
1980.
HistoricalCommission,
Preparedfor the Massachusetts
Maps
Atlas of EssexCounty,Massachusers.Philadelphia:D.B. Beers& Co.,1872.
Boston:GeorgeH. Walker,1884.
Atlas of EssexCounty,Massachusef/s.
Mass.:BigelowandHazen,1880.
Beck& Paul. City of Newburyporf.Framingham,
H. Mclntyre,1851.
Planof Newburyport.Philadelphia:
StateLibrary,
MapsofNewburyport,1888,1894,1906,1914,1924,1946,1961.Massachusetts
Sanbornlnsurance
Boston,Massachusetts.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET
Town
Newburlport
PropertyAddress
Area(s)FormNo.
HistoricalCommission
Massachusetts
ArchivesBuilding
Massachusetts
220MorrisseyBoulevard
etts02125
Boston,Massachus
BA
E'
w
--'--:.-z:.-e
jr" :.i .,-t
.?i'.:+'ir €.;
--: *';:;
Brou.n'sWharf
EssexMuseum,Salem,Mass.(8.I. neg.#Il77l)
Source:PhillipsLibrary,Peabody