The Crowninshield–Bentley House (circa 1727–1730) is a

Colonial Colonial or The Colonial may refer to: * Colonial, of, relating to, or characteristic of a colony or colony (biology) Architecture * American colonial architecture * French Colonial * Spanish Colonial architecture Automobiles * Colonial (1920 a ...

house in the Georgian style, located at 126 Essex Street, Salem, Massachusetts in the

Essex Institute Historic District The Essex Institute Historic District is a historic district at 134-132, 128, 126 Essex Street and 13 Washington Square West in Salem, Massachusetts. It consists of a compact group of properties associated with the Essex Institute, founded in 1 ...

. It is now owned by the Peabody Essex Museum and open for public tours from June to October. The house was originally built for sea captain John Crowninshield at a site on 106 Essex Street. It is a symmetrical five-bay structure, clapboarded, two stories tall, with three small dormers through the roof, and a central entry door. Compare it with the architecture of the

Ropes Mansion The Ropes Mansion (late 1720s), also called Ropes Memorial, is a Georgian Colonial mansion located at 318 Essex Street, located in the McIntire Historic District in Salem, Massachusetts. It is now operated by the Peabody Essex Museum and open to ...

and the Peirce-Nichols House, also in Salem, and also owned by the Peabody Essex Museum. Some believe it may have started as a "half house" on the east side, and been expanded in 1761 and again in 1794. The building was moved to its present location in 1959–1960, at which time it was restored. Four generations of Crowninshields lived in the house until 1832. Its main historical interest centers upon Reverend

William Bentley William Bentley (June 22, 1759, Boston, Massachusetts – December 29, 1819, Salem, Massachusetts) was an American Unitarian minister, scholar, columnist, and diarist. He was a polymath who possessed the second best library in the United States ...

, a boarder from 1791 to 1819. It has been suggested that this house may be the model for "the old Crowninshield house" mentioned in the H. P. Lovecraft story "

The Thing on the Doorstep "The Thing on the Doorstep" is a horror short story by American writer H. P. Lovecraft, part of the Cthulhu Mythos universe. It was written in August 1933, and first published in the January 1937 issue of ''Weird Tales''. Inspiration The ide ...

" ().

External links

Salem Tales: Reverend William Bentley
* Quantum Sigil Magic
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References

* Bryant F. Tolles, Jr., ''Architecture in Salem: An Illustrated Guide'', University Press of New England, Hanover and London, reissued 2004. * Quantum Sigil Magic

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crowninshield-Bentley House Houses completed in 1730 Crowninshield family Historic house museums in Massachusetts Houses in Salem, Massachusetts Peabody Essex Museum 1730 establishments in the Province of Massachusetts Bay

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