The Pickering House (circa 1664) is a

First Period First Period is an American architecture style originating between approximately 1626 and 1725, used primarily by British colonists during the settlement of the British colonies of North America, particularly in Massachusetts and Virginia. ...

Colonial house at 18 Broad Street, in

Salem, Massachusetts Salem ( ) is a historic coastal city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, located on the North Shore (Massachusetts), North Shore of Greater Boston. Continuous settlement by Europeans began in 1626 with English colonists. Salem was one ...

' McIntire Historic District. Located in downtown Salem between Cambridge & Summer Street. Ten successive generations of the Pickering family including Colonel

Timothy Pickering Timothy Pickering (July 17, 1745January 29, 1829) was the third United States Secretary of State, serving under Presidents George Washington and John Adams. He also represented Massachusetts in both houses of United States Congress, Congress as ...

have owned and lived in this grand home. This house is believed to have been the oldest house in the United States continuously occupied by one family. However, in 1998, the Goodhue family moved into the house, with Albert Goodhue as the primary caretaker. It is located at 18 Broad Street,

and is open to the public under the auspices of the nonprofit Pickering Foundation. Across the street is the Broad Street Cemetery, one of the three oldest in Salem.

History

Although the core house is in the First Period style, it has evolved considerably over the years. The original house was two stories tall, with a single room on each floor, and an entry bay. The left side was then added circa 1682 by his son, John Pickering II. In 1751, Deacon Timothy Pickering raised a rear lean-to up to a full two stories, which is how the house exists today. In 1841 the front facade was reworked in the

Gothic Revival style Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic) is an architectural movement that after a gradual build-up beginning in the second half of the 17th century became a widespread movement in the first half of the 19th century ...

, with the facade gables probably dating from this time. Many of the house's external features date from this alteration, including the roof finials, round windows in the gables, cornice brackets, and exterior entry porch. Family records also suggest that a passageway was cut through the chimney stack at this time, and that the exterior chimney was remodeled to today's columnar style at this time. The Gothic-style fence with its cut-outs and obelisk finials was also added in this renovation. In 1904 a two-story ell was added to the rear. In 1948,

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

architect Gordon Robb carried out interior restoration work to reintroduce more Colonial Revival features. 1820 Salem Massachusetts map bySaunders BPL 12094

1820 Salem Massachusetts map bySaunders BPL 12094

References

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

External links

Pickering House
- official site {{National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts Houses completed in 1664 Historic districts in Essex County, Massachusetts Protected areas of Massachusetts Historic house museums in Massachusetts Museums in Salem, Massachusetts Houses in Salem, Massachusetts Historic district contributing properties in Massachusetts Colonial architecture in Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places in Salem, Massachusetts 1664 establishments in the Massachusetts Bay Colony Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Essex County, Massachusetts

History

See also

References

External links