Salem State University - Clipper Yearbook

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john Winthrop was chosen by the newly formed Massachusetts Bay Company to take its charter, and thus the seat of its govern- ment, from London to New England. He ar- rived in Salem on the ship ARBELLA on June 10, 1630, followed by fifteen other ships, ad- ding about a thousand colonists and their cargo to the few already here. These were too many for Salem to absorb. Within a few months Winthrop moved his capital to Charlestown and thence to Boston. No longer a fishing or trading station in- tended only to make money for the investors in English commercial companies, the Mas- sachusetts Bay colony became a common- wealth to settle a new world as free and inde- pendent from outside interference as Eng- lish inattention would permit. It began in Salem. Geography Naumkeag, soon renamed Salem from the Hebrew word meaning peace, was origi- nally a long narrow peninsular between the North and South rivers with what is now Essex Street running down the middle. Visi- tors to Pioneer Village today will see there a careful reconstruction of Salem in its early days. Before good land routes were established, Salem rivaled Boston as a trading center. Its good harbor and tidal rivers running deep into the rich surrounding farmlands made it a natural shipping point for fish, lumber, and farm produce. Winter Island belonged to the fishermen. Shipyards were active in the town, and such supporting industries as iron forges and rope walks. Wharves lined the South River along Front Street from what is now Hawthorne Boulevard to the site of the Post Office. Riley Plaza was once deep water. As ships grew larger the wharves were moved closer to the sea from Derby Wharf to the eastward. x The town limits were moved in steadily through the 17th century as the population spread beyond the original peninsula and churches were built to serve the outlying residences. New towns were formed around these churches. Salem was the mother town to many in Essex County, among them Pea- body, Danvers, Beverly, Manchester, and Marblehead. Indeed, by the end of its mari- time period, Salem found itself seriously short of land on which to develop many of its bright beginnings. It filled in much of its North and South rivers, small streams, swamps, and coves, in an effort to replace the lands it had given away long years be- fore. The Gardner-Pingree house, built for john Gardner at 12.8 Essex Street in 1804, is considered to be one of the finest examples of the work of Samuel Mclntire, Salem architect, builder, and woodcarver. It represents his mature work in the fully developed neo-classical Federal style. The beauti- ful proportions of the rooms and the delicacy of their arch- itectural ornament are matched by the elegant furnishings representing the best in both imported and domestic wares at the height of Salem's overseas trade.

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Q ' iwkx...tt 1' f ' 5 cv The Essex lnstitute is a collection of books and manuscripts, fur- niture and furnishings, and period houses, It contains, in the words of its charter, the authentic memorials relating to the civil history of Essex County, Massachusetts, and of the eminent men who have resided within its limits from the first settlement through the nineteenth century. It thus provides more materials for an accurate history of this part of our Commonwealth than may be found in any other single place. It was founded in 1848 by the ioining together of the Essex Historical Society tincorporated in 15211 and the Essex County Natural History Society Cincor- prirated in 18361. Salem is a city of bright beginnings. Much of what was started here has grown up and gone elsewhere, but new beginnings are still happening here today. Traces of early be- ginnings are visible in the city's architecture, in the pattern of its streets, and in the col- lections of its museums and historic houses. Early history Salem was first settled in 1626 by men who had failed in an effort to set up a fishing sta- tion on Cape Ann. Roger Conant let them to Naumkeag, now Salem, for a new and brighter beginning. John Endecott arrived on the ship ABIGAIL with about fifty new settlers in September 1628. King Charles of England dismimissed his puritan Parliament in 1629 for protesting his repressive acts against the Protestant dissenters. For eleven years he ruled without a Parliament and Protestants fled to New England in the thousands for the right to worship as they pleased. .-4 e .,.. 'X i x The Crowninshield-Bentley House xx.islNu1lt.it 106 Essex Street tor john Crowninshield in 1727, added to in 1794, and parts of the interior remodeled twice before 1800. lt presents under one roof the main architectural styles of the 18th century with appropriate furnishings based on inventories and other documentary evidence. The noted diarist, scholar, linguist, and clergyman, the Reverend William Bentley, boarded here from 1701 until his death in 1819. Q- 1- - i X. if ' Sig f S ifisifff . ,- 4 .X gq T . 5 Lui - E ., gf Inf i 3 y' if l l e fl 'V Pnl .ff T S SVI if ' 1 A5 J-Wi. I a ilflflm., fri 45 .1 1' ri ' 3 In-f 21 ' 'w ' Q H: ,,-- -e a IIIJ 4 - ' Q E i g H pr-,L ' .-- s . . 1 . A ' H 6 C ' f - , 's'q:E'-1-:Q 1 ii' . 2 'Yip--.'.f,3 'i A - --- ' ' A A la-if-45: : .i. . ' 'F tfavf A-sq . , ' Ui, ' ., :ff :.. ft.. fy, .P-

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