Hooper, Robert "King", Mansion

The King Hooper Mansion is located in the densely developed center of Marblehead. The small lot, which slopes steeply away from the street, is almost entirely covered by the house, although there is a small garden plot to the rear. The Mansion is only a few blocks from the ocean and once an unobstructed view of the ships coming into Marblehead Harbor could be had from the upper stories. The house was built in two distinct periods, the older portion dating from 1727-1728 and the newer part from 1745. The older section, a gambrel roof, clapboard structure is set back from the street by about 20 feet and'is built parpendicular to the street with the original facade facing south. Because of the slope of the land the east gable elevation of this section of the house rises five floors.

The ground floor is'a full basement, the first floor contains a large kitchen; the second and main floor, on the same level as the street, contains the original entrance which was reached by wooden steps on the exterior; and the third and fourth floors, each one room in depth, contain bedrooms. One large center chimney sérves all ten fireplaces in this section of the house. The fenestration on the 1727-28 house has 6/9 sash with plain surrounds. Except for the striking profile of the old house as seen from the south the clapboard structure is quite plain. The interior was extensively remodeled in 1745 when a three-story, five bay by two bay Georgian structure was added to the front of the 1728 house.

This alteration gave the house its present I-shaped floor plan, and 20 room mansion status. The facade of the 1745 addition, flush with the sidewalk, is covered with wood imitation of regular ashlar stone.

/ARCHITECT STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Hooper Mansion and family have been significant in Marblehead town history for well over two hundred years.. Once the home of presperous merchants and ship owners, the Hooper Mansion now serves as a cultural center for the town under the ownership of the Marblehead Arts Association. The Hoopers first appeared in Marblehead records in 1674, and in 1695 a Robert, Houper (sic) is listed as a generous donor to the enlarged Meeting House. In 1727 Greenfield Hooper purchased land to build the original four-story section of the house. Although somewhat simple on the exterior, its size and interior detail attest to his success as a tallow chandler.

In 1745 Greenfield Hooper's son, who became a successful shipper and merchant in his own right, built the three-story Georgian addition to his father's house. The new mansion became one of the centers of social events in Massachusetts, as well as in Marblehead. Hooper actively increased trade with his numerous ships which carried the town's cured fish to Europe, Africa, Russia and the Caribbean, returning with exotic cargoes which brought "affluence and influence". to both Hooper and Marblehead.- Hooper's prosperity was shared with his fedlow citizens.. He paid for the town teacher one year, and another year donated a silver flagon to the church.

In 1751 he presented a Iondon-made fire engine to the town and then organized a volunteer fire department under the name "Board of Firewardens." It was his generosity and concern that earned him the name "King Hooper." When the British began placing restrictions on colonial trade, Robert Hooper joined the protests and served on a committee to "petition His Majesty to disallow the Act." Al- though opposed to the trade restraints imposed by Britain, Hooper was not in favor of separation.