Gorham Macy House, 39 India Street, Nantucket

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,10-NANT,75D-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Example of vernacular Greek revival domestic architecture; part of the India Street Neighborhood Study (MASS-1013). PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Original and subsequent owners: # Gorham Macy bought land from Philip H. Folger for George C. Macy by deed from his father, Gorham Macy for William H, Skinner bought from George C. Macy for Mary E, Mattocks inherited from her father, William H. Skinner. Susan W. Tracy bought from Mary E. Mattocks of Lyndon, Vermont, for Edmund B. Fox from Susan W. Tracy. William Holland bought from Edmund B. Fox. Annie B. Holland by deed from William Holland. Ida H. Folger from Annie B. Holland. Nathan B. and Mae W. Rogers from Ida H. Folger. to date Ruth D. Hardie from Estate of Mae W, Rogers (Nathan B. Rogers also being deceased).

(Abstract: Records at Registry of Deeds, Nantucket, Massachusetts.) 2. Date of erection: c. (Abstract: Book 35, Page 294 and Book 40, Page 5, at Registry Deeds, Nantucket, Mass.) 3. Architect: None. 4. Original plans, construction, etc.: House was built with an unusually high basement, possibly because of the dampness in INDIA STREET NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY GORHAM MACY HOUSE also known as the Holland House HABS No. MASS-1043 (Page 2) this area. Unlike others on the north side of India Street, the gable end faces the street, design influenced by the Greek revival style in vogue at this time. 5. Notes on alterations and additions: Little changed with the exception of shed ells which have been added at the rear.

There is now one chimney on the west side; another may have been on the east side originally. B. Historical Events Connected with the Structure: It would appear that Gorham Macy built this house for his son George C. Macy, who bought it from his father a few years later when he married Ann Crosby in The Macys owned it until when it sold for only due perhaps to hard times brought about by the Civil War. This property is located in that area originally described as the Third Squadron of Wesco Acre Lots. India Street in the early was largely occupied by the wealthier families, many of whom derived large profit from the East India trade as well as from whaling.

According to the Portfolio, written in it was first called India Row; later it became Pearl Street and still later the name was changed back to India Street. Westminster Street to the north of India Street was formerly called Clay Lane, and Micah's Pond extended from that area to the central part of India Street. C. Sources of Information: 1. Old Views: Old photograph of Pearl Street in Nantucket Illustrated by A. Wittemann, New York: Albertype Co. , Prepared by Marie M, Coffin Nantucket, Massachusetts November, PART II. PROJECT INFORMATION These records were prepared as part of the India Street Neighborhood Study (MASS-1013) made in the summer of by the Historic American Buildings Survey on Nantucket, Massachusetts.

This is the fifth summer project of a continuing HABS comprehensive survey of the early archi- tecture and urban design of Nantucket financed by a grant from the Nantucket Historical Trust. The project was under the general supervision of James C. Massey, Chief of the Historic American Buildings Survey. Project Director was Professor F. Blair Reeves, A.I.A., of the University of Florida. Historical INDIA STREET NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY CORHAM MACY HOUSE also known as the Holland House HABS No. MASS-1G43 (Page 3) information was provided by Marie M. Coffin of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Photographs are by Jack E. Boucher of Linwood, New Jersey. The material was edited for deposit in the Library of Congress by Constance Werner Ramirez, August