Nomination for Balch, John, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

EL -L NI PH000608443 Form 10-300 (July 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STATE: Massachusetts COUNTY: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM Essex (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) FORNPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER DATE FEB 2$ 1973 1.

NAME COMMON: The John Balch House AND/OR HISTORIC: same LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER: 448 Cabot Street CITY OR TOWN: Beverly STATE RECÊNED CC JUL 17 1972 Congressional District #RATTONAL REGISTER CODE 025 COUNTY: Massachusetts CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY (Check One) District Site Essex CODE 009 OWNERSHIP STATUS Building Structure Object Public X) Private Both Public Acquisition: - In Process Being Considered * Occupied - Unoccupied - Preservation work in progress ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC Yes: Restricted Unrestricted No PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Agricultural Government Commercial Industrial Educational Military Entertainment Museum Park Private Residence Religious Scientific - Transportation -Comments - Other (Specity) OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: Beverly Historical Society STREET AND NUMBER: 117 Cabot Street CITY OR TOWN: Beverly LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Essex County Registry of Deeds STREET AND NUMBER: Federal Street CITY OR TOWN: Salem STATE: Massachusetts CODE 025 Massachusetts Essex STATE Massachusetts CODE 025 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth DATE OF SURVEY: 1969 Federal X State - County DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Massachusetts Historical Commission, Office of the Secretary STREET AND NUMBER: 3 Joy Street CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: Massachusetts - Local CODE 025 STATE: COUNTY: ENTRY NUMBER DATE FOR NPS USE ONLY 7.

DESCRIPTION (Check One) Excellent X Good Fair Deteriorated Ruins - Unexposed CONDITION (Check One) (Check One) X Altered - Unaltered Moved * Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENTAND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The original Balch House was built in 1636, according to local records, on a rise in ground eight to ten feet above the adjacent highway and about seventy feet back from the road. In its life it has been added to and altered a number of times and stands today, a structure of composite shape in brown weathered clapboard, wood shingle roof, single central brick chimney and windows of various types, from diamond pane casement to multiple pane double hung. The house has been extensively repaired and restored (most notably about 1961 when an effort was made to re-create the appearance of the original 1636 portion) but the framing and other truly original elements remain and are clearly visible. The east elevation consists of two parts in the same plane.

On the right is the 1961 restoration of the one and one-half story original house, with two diamond- paned casement windows about two feet square set high in the ground floor wall and two more similar windows set directly above them toward the bottom of a steeply pitched gable, the roof of which overhangs the wall by approximately a foot and has plain barge boards with simple moulding meeting the shingles. The ridge of this old portion runs north and south slightly higher than the gable ridge and the valley between gable and main roof runs down to within a foot or so of the house corner, returning along the front with a short run of level eave. The left half of the east elevation consists of a two story element of three bays with three double hung diamond paned windows on the second floor close to the overhanging eave and irregularly spaced.

The first floor windows are similar and are placed directly below them with the exception that the opening nearest the center of the house is the entrance door, a simple nail-studded plank door in a frame with flat trim. The door and its hardware are reproductions but are appropriate in character. The roof of this portion of the house has a much flatter pitch than the gable of the 1636 portion and is clearly of a later period. The south elevation shows the end of the portion described above which is an extension of the width of the original house and consists of a two story and attic symmetrical gable end with three diamond-paned double hung windows set one above the other. In the stucco-covered rubble granite basement wall a wood hatch covers the basement stairs.

Beyond this wing on the south elevation is the wall of the extension of the original house, consisting of two stories and attic with gable roof of same pitch as the wing and a ridge considerably higher than the ridge of the 1636 house. This portion has first and second floor double hung windows of 12 over 8 lights, set over each other and an attic window of the same type set closer to the ridge. The west or rear elevation shows the back of the two story wing on the right with mostly plain clapboard wall and first and second floor diamond-paned double hung windows set over each other to the left of center of the wall and in the corner a diagonal-brace plank door with plain trim and three wood steps down to grade. The left part of the west elevation shows the extension of the 1636 house and consists of two stories with three irregularly spaced 12 by 8 windows close to the eave.

on the second floor and on the first floor a similar window to the south, not [continued] INST Form 10-300a UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (July 1969) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM STATE Massachusetts COUNTY (Continuation Sheet) Essex FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER FEB 2 3 1979 DATE (Number all entries) 7. Description, The John Balch House, Beverly under the window above. Then a modern lean-to entrance and a modern high double casement window in the kitchen. The north elevation is almost in one plane but the steep roof pitch and barge board of the original house protrude about a foot from the wall of the addition to the west, which is in the same plane as the wall of the original house.

Windows in the original portion consist of double diamond-paned casements on the first floor and a two foot square diamondpaned casement low in the gable on the second floor. The gable of the extension rises from the ridge of the original house at a lower pitch to its own ridge about which it is symmetrical. Fenestration in the extension consists of 12 over 8 double hung sash placed over each other on the first and second floors and a third similar sash placed in the gable a foot or so east of its centerline. co TOLLI! RECEIVED JUL 17 1972 NATIONAL REGISTER

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) Pre-Columbian| 15th Century 16th Century 17th Century 18th Century 19th Century 20th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Abor iginal Education Prehistoric Engineering Historic Industry Agriculture Invention Architecture Landscape Art Architecture Commerce Literature Communications Conservation 1636; 1675; 1775 19G! Political Religion/Phi. losophy - Urban Planning X Other (Specify) Early Settlement Science Sculpture Social/Human- 9 JOLT itarian X Military Theater Music Transportation JUL X7 RECEWET 1972 STATEMENT OF SiGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

robe eo framie bouse in dhe dnite stitean sererlgas now beltevea to be the NATIONAL oldest wooden frame house in the United States, the original (northeast) section probably having been built in February of 1636 (new style calendar), about one year before the Fairbanks House in Dedham. The house has been enlarged several times and was the target of "preservation" efforts in 1925 and 1961. Built by John Balch, it is the only home still standing of those built by the original "Old Planters" of Salem (later Beverly). It has a record of continuous ownership by descendants of the family first receiving the grant, until 1932 when the house was acquired by the Beverly Historical Society. Its architectural significance lies in the fact that the original structure was built in a style very forward looking for the period.

Because of the additions made to the house after its construction, the progression of architectural methods in the years following 1636 are clearly demonstrated, particularly in the attic framing. John Balch, born in England in 1579, came to America with Captain Gorges in 1623, settling at Cape Ann (Gloucester) in 1624 as part of the Dorchester Company. Finding the soil of Cape Ann too rocky to cultivate, he and others of the Dorchester Company moved to Naumkeag (Salem) with Governor Roger Conant in 1626. About nine years later, (November 25, 1635, old style; January 25, 1636, new style), the first grant in the Salem Book of Grants records that John Balch was to be allotted a farm of 200 acres on the Bass River, along with equal grants to William Trask, John Woodbery, Roger Conant and Peter Palfrey.

When Beverly separated from Salem in 1668, this 1,000 acre grant came within the boundary of the new town. After John Endicott succeeded Conant as governor of the colony, both Conant and Balch were appointed to the 13-man governing board as representatives of the original, early planters. Together Conant and Balch strove to settle an agricultural community that might afford a haven for Puritans. "Both these pioneers of the North Shore of Massachusetts Bay were characterized by religious tolerance, as were the other Old Planters, not one of whom is known to have taken part in the persecutions of Baptists, Quakers or witches. " John Balch and his wife Margery helped to found the Salem Church in 1629, said to be the first church fully formed and organized in America. [see Continuation Sheet]

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Austin, George Lowell, History of Massachusetts, 1881. Frost, Archie, Witchcraft Records, Salem, 1938. Perley, Sidney, History of Salem, Vol.I, 1926. Lapham, Alice G., The Old Planters of Beverly in Massachusetts, 1930. Stone, Edwin M., History of Beverly, 1842. 10. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY R CORNER LATITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES LATITUDE LONGITUDE Degrees.

42° Minutes 33' Seconds 44" Degrees 70° Minutes 53' Seconds 07" NW NE " SE SW APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: one acre LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE: CODE COUNTY CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME AND TITLE: Anne Wardwell, Survey Director ORGANIZATION Massachusetts Historical Commission, Office of the Secretary STREET AND NUMBER: 3 Joy Street CITY OR TOWN: STATE Boston (by Elizabeth R.

Amadon) DATE April 11, 1972 CODE STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION Massachusetts NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION 025 As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. The recommended level of significance of this nomination is: tional Local dlttWonu Secretary of the Commonwealth and Chairman, Massachusetts Historical TitN Commission I hereby certify that this property is included in the Nationa 1 Register. Vuherte Utte Chief.

Office of Archeoloóy a 1 Historic Preservation Date 2/23/73 Date April 11, 1972 ATTEST: saradt Keeper of The National Register Date 2/77 GP 0 901.087 713710 M Form 10-300a UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (July 1969) NATIONALPARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM STATE Massachusetts COUNTY (Continuation Sheet) ESSeX FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER FEB 2 3 373 DATE (Number all entries) 8.

Significance, The John Balch House, Beverly Joseph Balch, grandson of the Old Planter, was born in this house about In 1675, during the early part of King Philip's War, he joined Captain Thomas Lothrop's company which was called the "flower of Essex" and "consisted of young men selected from the best families of the several towns in the county." Joseph Balch and most of this company were destroyed in the massacre by 800 Indians at Bloody Brook, South Deerfield, Massachusetts on September 18, 1675. By 1692 the Balch family became involved, at least in a small way, in the current witch hysteria. David, the son of Benjamin Balch, Sr., was "tormented by witches, " whom he named, and claimed that a deposition of them were whispering together at the foot of his bed upstairs in the Balch House. The disposition of this accusation and its possible accompanying charges is not on record.

During the Revolutionary War three later descendants of John Balch, who were also born in the Balch House, were among the Minutemen at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. They were Abner, Cornelius and Jonathan Dodge; their records appear in Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War. Descendants of the original Balch family occupied this house until 1916 at which time the property was bought by the Balch Family Association and then transferred to the Balch House Trust in 1921. The Beverly Historical Society acquired it by deed in 1932. F T01 11/ RECEIVED JUL 17 1972 NATIONAL REGISTER /GT PROPERTY THE JOHN BALCH HOUSE Working number 7.17.72.1064 TECH REVIEW STATE Mass Photos Maps Essex REVIEW 9laf 111-1-72 HISTORIAN Olag.- Sarle W/2/22 ARCHEOLOGIST I Aerare Sugpicious sestoration, büt if original fabsic aud èven e.

portious exist theu KH2/5/73 BRANCH CHIEF 42163 EDITORIAL REVIEW KEEPER National Register write-up Federal Register entry 4-3-73 Acknowledge Send-back Re-submit Register no. 7/17/72 FEB 2 3 1973 erum Peinit Light The John Balch touse Beverly, Mass. 1960- frow facade of house facing east UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM (Type all entries -attach to or enclose with photograph) NPS Titl Loc.

PROPE STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Essex NAME COMMON: AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCA TION STREET AND NUMBER: 448 Cabot Street CITY OR TOWN: Beverly The John Balch House same FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER FEB-2-2-1973 JULIT RECENE 1972 NATIONAL REGISTER N STATE: COUNTY CODE 025 Massachusetts PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT: DATE OF PHOTO: NEGATIVE FILED AT: Essex Beverly Historical Society 1960 after 1961 Beverly Historical Society, 117 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. John Balch House -- front facade of house facing east.

DATE CODE 009 Form 10-301 (Juiy 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM (Type all entries - attach to or enclose with map) STATE Massachusetts COUNTY Essex FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER FEB 3 1979 NAME COMMON: The John Balch House AND/OR HISTORIC: same LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: 448 Cabot Street CITY OR TOWN: Beverly STATE: Massachusetts MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: U. S. G. S. Salem, Mass. SCALE: 1: 24,000 DATE: 1956 REQUIREMEN SS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.

CODE 025 00 9) COUNTY: 110LIIL Essex RECEIVED JUL 1T 1972 NAIONAL REGISTER 9T 17 DATE CODE 009 Folly: 3M 106 40 HIGHWA INTERCHANGES BM 464 St Johns ASch Shore Day Scl ntry River (r Bass Seh ANTERCHANGE Memerial JF igh Sch USMG Swinslow LAT.42 Coußs ,Scky LONG 70°53 pa BM 0.9 GLOUCESTEF BM 128 -4715 87 100 St Marys Cem Massachusetts, Beverly The John Balch House U.S.G.S. Salem, Mass. 1:24,000 1956 RECÊIVED JUL 17 1972 NATIONAL REGISTER Goil Course Salters Pt Riven Kernwood Park Beverly Hospita N NORTH) (MARBLEHEAD 6869 ||I SE 128 ESSEX 807 MANCHESTER 6.3 GLOUCESTER *40 32'30" BM Lobster Rocks Tuck Pt BEVEREY "1I HARBOR ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Date Entered STATE MASSACUUISETES FEB 2 3 1973 Name Iocation Balch (John) House Beverly Essex County Also Notified Hon. Edward M. Kennedy Hon. Edrard . Brooke Hon. Michael J.

Harriagton Director, Northeast Region PHR State Iialson Officer Hon. John E. X. Devoren Secrefary of the Commonsealth Chairman, Massachusetts Illatorical 40 Beacon Street commession Boston, Massachusetts 02108 NRow1and: mm 2/23/73 Form 10-817 (Sept. 1957) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL SURVEY OF HISTORIC SITES AND BUILDINGS 1. STATE 2. THEME(S). IF ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE. WRITE "ARCH" BEFORE THEME NO assechusetts Theme XX - Architecture (Colonial), Theme VI 3. NAME(S) OF SITE 4. APPROX. ACREAGE Balch House -2 acre 5.EXACTLOCATION (County, toonship, roada, etc. Il dificult tofind,sketch on Supplementary Sheet) 448 Cebot Street (Rte 1A) at Beich Street, Beverly, Iosex County. 6. NAME AND ADDRESS OF PRESENT OWNER (Also adminiatrator if diferent from owner) 01915. Me. Arthur Appleton, President, Beverly HistoriealSociety, 117 Cabot Street, Beverly, 7.

IMPORTANCE AND DESCRIPTION (Describe briefly what makes site important and what remains are exlant) Irected in 1638, the Beleh House is s much altered and greatly enlarged example of a 17th century house of medieval desigs. The oldest portion of the house (now the north or right-hand section) vas constructed by John Belchas a typical one-and-a-hal? story frame structure, with entrance door, stetway, and large chimney at one end, and one room on each floer. In 1650, a large extension vas built on the south side of the original house with s chimney between. Since that time many changes have been made and the present structure, now a clapboard and shingle two-and-e- hale story house with an irregularly gabled root, is much different from the original 17th century design. In 1914 the house was bought by members of the Baleh Family and transferred to the Baleh House Irust in 1921.

The Beverly Historieal Society aeçudred the structure in 1932. In 1961 the Soctety was able to restore the ordginal nerth portion or the house. This portion still has the original timbers, summer beams, posts and raiters. The Society hopes to restore the balance of the house at some future time. Maintained in excellent condition and furnished with perlod pieces, the house is open to visitors during the sunmer months. 8. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES (Give best sources: gite location of manuscripts and rare worke) See page 2. 9. REPORTS AND STUDIES (Mention best reports and studies, as, NPS study, IIABS, etc.) Historie American Builäing Survey: (2 photos, 1941). TO PHOTOGRAPHS/4204, 4207-8 oriA 4254. 12. PRESENT USE (Museum, farm, etc.) 13. DATE OF VISIT ATTACHED:YeNFs Ely No O Excellent Museum sept. 9, 1967 15. TITLE 16. DATE W.Orell Charles W. Snel1 Historian Jan.

9, 1968 LOCATION OF NEGATIVE* IF XTTACHED, ENCLOSE IN PROPER NEGATIVE ENVELOPEBY VIEW AND MAME OF THE SITE, DATE OF PHOTOGRAPH, ANO MAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER. GIVE (IF ADDITIONAL SPACE IS NEEDED USE SUPPLEMENTARY SHEET, 10-317a, AND REFER TO ITEM NUMBER) 75 16 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL SURVEY OFHISTORIC SITES AND BUILDINGS SUPPLEMENTARY SHEET This sheet is to be used for giving additional information or comments, for more space for any item on the regular form, and for recording pertinent data from future studies, visitations, etc. Be brief, but use as many Supplement Sheets as necessary. When items are continued they should be listed, if possible, in numerical order of the items. All information given should be headed by the item number, its name, and the word (cont'd), Bs, 6. Description and Importance (cont'd) ... Page 2.

STATE Massachusetts NAME(S) OF SITE Balch House 8. References: Dorothy and Richard Pratt, A Guide to Early American Homes--North A Guide to its Places and People nerYcan Gde Serzes) oson, 1937), 421-22) Fiske Rimiels, Domestra Archlines ouloe the Aecracen coonle doe th or le soouely or the Pee raval, o. of New England Antiquities, No. 15 (1916), page Io. E LaTor Add.tiaN 1650 add.trod HALL 16:= Frout Stletch ip lan of the Balch Itouse, Beverly, Mass C.wSwell-1128/67 Cabot House, 117 Cabot Street (1781) Headquarters, Library and Museum Hale House, 39 Hole Street (1694) Burial Place - Rev. John Hale Ist Minister in Beverly Balch House, 448 Cabot Street (1638) Site of First Powered Cotton Mill To Wonham Enon St. To Lynnfield Conant St. Rte. 128 Rio. 128 nty Way Cobor Si. Balch St. Brimbal Ave. Goucester Branch To Gloucester Essox St. RIO Rallroad Ave. To Manchester RIa. 127 10947 Stone St.

HARBOR BEVERLY Wilkscraft BEVERLY, MASS. THE BEVERLY HISTORICAL SOCIETY A. B. APPLETON S- E Later Addition 1650 addition AWIZy PORCH HALL 1638 Front stetch Plaw of ko Balch ltouse, Beverly, Mass C.W. Swell - 11/28/67 Balch House, 1639-50 East (Front) Elevation and North End (Right) Beverly, Massachusetts Sept. T, 1967 Charles W. Snell Western Reg. Neg. 4207 3a1ch House, 1639-50 West (Rem) Mavetion and South Ind (Right) Beverty, Mousechusetto Sept. T, 1967 Cherles W. Snell Vastem Reg. Ieg. 4208 Sept. 7, 1967 Balch House, 1639-50 South end of House (left) and East (Front) Elevation (Right) Beverly, Massachusetts Charles W. Snell Western Reg. Neg. 4204 Iocation: Ornership: Other Sites Considered Balch House, Massachusetts 448 Cabot Street (Rte 1A) at Balch Street, Beverly, Essex County. , Bever-y, 019->- History and Condition Crected in 1030, design.

The oldest portion of the house (now the north or right- hand section) was constructed by John Balch as a typical one-and- a-halt story frame structure, with entrance door, stairway, and Large chimney at one end, and one room on each floor. In 1650, a large extension was built on the south side of the original house with a chimney between. Since that time many changes have been made and the present structure, now & clapboard and shingle two-and-a-half story house with an irregularly gabled roof, is much different from the original 17th century design. In 1914 the house was bought by members of the Balch Family and transferred to the Balch House Trust in 1921. The Beverly Historical Society acquired the structure in 1932. In 1961 the Society was able to restore the original north portion the balance of the house at some future time.

Maintained in excellent condition and furnished with period pieces, the house is open to visitors during the summer months.