Gardner-Pingree House 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts part 2

Gardner-Pingree House 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts

In August of 2009 I toured one of the finest Federal period homes in America. The Gardner-Pingree House in Salem, Massachusetts. Built by John Gardner and his wife Sarah in 1804 during Salem's most prosperous era, this elegant Federal red brick town house is widely admired in the published history of American architecture for its imposing but balanced and restrained brick facade. It remains the finest surviving example of the many Federal style houses built in Salem between 1793 and 1825. The house features a central hall plan, five-bay facade arrangement with central front door. The symmetry of the earlier Georgian style is retained. The lavish interior and exterior wood ornamentation were designed and carved by Salem's master builder and carver, Samuel McIntire, at the height of his powers. whose innate sense of proportion and attention to decorative detail make him one of the most celebrated architects of the early Republic.




The house showcases some of the most outstanding examples of McIntire's woodcarving, including the Corinthian capitals on the semicircular portico with semi-elliptical or semi-circular fanlight with flanking sidelights (which were original covered with 22 caret gold leaf) and the neoclassical ornaments on the mantels, doorframes, and Federal furniture of the magnificent double parlor. The Federal style was known for it's simplicity and lightness of detail. Much more refined than the heavier Georgian style.



The Gardner-Pingree House should actually be called the Gardner-West-White-Pingree House as the house was sold in 1811 to Nathaniel West when John Gardner had some financial difficulties. Three years later, West sold the house to Captain Joseph White, a wealthy, retired merchant and slave trader. White had boasted to Salem minister William Bentley in 1788 that he had “no reluctance in selling any part of the human race.” White lived in the house with a manservant and his niece, Mrs, Beckford, who worked as his housekeeper and who had a daughter that lived in Wenham, Massachusetts and was married to Joseph J. Knapp, Jr. The house was the site of the notorious 1830 murder of Capt. Joseph White, whose death prompted a famous trial prosecuted by Daniel Webster. The trial inspired Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. To read about the murder go here A Murder in Salem .



The house is owned by the Peabody Essex Museum as part of the Essex Institute, and is open for guided tours. It features 18th and early 19th century furnishings. The house museum showcases how the upper crust lived in early 19th century America. Today we are touring the Hall, office/study, kitchen, china closet, and two bedrooms. Not that most of the rooms have costly imported wool wall to wall carpets. Although the carpets are reproductions they are made on looms that the originals were made on in England. During this period the rich were able to have wall-to-wall carpeting. Carpets were woven in widths of 27 inches, then they had to be stitched together by hand. Also not the bright colors of the carpets and busy patterns. The Federalist were not afraid of color and pattern. The furniture in theses rooms are made in Boston and Salem by Thomas Seymour and Salem's golden boy Samuel McIntire. The last bedroom is the bedroom where the notorious 1830 murder of Capt. Joseph White tuck place. Sorry my photo's are poor no flash photography allowed in the house

Gardner-Pingree House 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts

Gardner-Pingree House 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts

The central hall makes a elegant statement showing off it mint green walls. Green was the most expensive paint you could buy during this period as it was made from Verdigris dust scraped off of copper. Also note the painted floor cloth painted to look like a green and black marble tile floor.

Detail of arch in hall carved by Samuel McIntire

Detail of shaft of wheat carved by Samuel McIntire in hall. This motif of wheat was a used often by Samuel Mclntire

Shafts of wheat were popular in America during this period as we can see it on a coin silver spoon handle

Back of hall looking into the dinning room

Beautiful carving staircase

China closet

Kitchen, Who said Federalist were afraid of color  

Birdcage in kitchen

 Office/study

Upstairs bedroom note Beautiful half circle Federal commode made by Thomas Seymour of Boston.

The Federal bed is also made by Thomas Seymour of Boston.

The bedroom where the site of the notorious 1830 murder of Capt. Joseph White

The white and gold leafed trimmed bed was made by Samuel Mclntire note the golden Shafts of wheat 

Dressing table with Chinese export dressing mirror on stand would have been the type of luxury items shipped to Salem

Gold leaf & cream colored Massachusetts made Federal period fancy chair

Beautiful cream colored Massachusetts made Federal period fancy chairs with a wish stand with hidden chamber pot

This room is very light and airy with it's Summer dress white muslin window treatment

Gardiner-Pingree House 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts part 1

Gardiner-Pingree House 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts

In August of 2009 I toured one of the finest Federal period homes in America. The Gardner-Pingree House in Salem, Massachusetts. Built by John Gardner and his wife Sarah in 1804 during Salem's most prosperous era, this elegant Federal red brick town house is widely admired in the published history of American architecture for its imposing but balanced and restrained brick facade. It remains the finest surviving example of the many Federal style houses built in Salem between 1793 and 1825. The house features a central hall plan, five-bay facade arrangement with central front door. The symmetry of the earlier Georgian style is retained. The lavish interior and exterior wood ornamentation were designed and carved by Salem's master builder and carver, Samuel McIntire, at the height of his powers. whose innate sense of proportion and attention to decorative detail make him one of the most celebrated architects of the early Republic.

The house showcases some of the most outstanding examples of McIntire's woodcarving, including the Corinthian capitals on the semicircular portico with semi-elliptical or semi-circular fanlight with flanking sidelights (which were original covered with 22 caret gold leaf) and the neoclassical ornaments on the mantels, doorframes, and Federal furniture of the magnificent double parlor. The Federal style was known for it's simplicity and lightness of detail. Much more refined than the heavier Georgian style.

The house was the site of the notorious 1830 murder of Capt. Joseph White, whose death prompted a famous trial prosecuted by Daniel Webster. The trial inspired Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne. The house is owned by the Peabody Essex Museum as part of the Essex Institute, and is open for guided tours. It features 18th and early 19th century furnishings. Today we are touring the formal dinning room & beautiful double parlors. The first set of photo's of the interior are of the formal dinning room. The first parlor is set up as a setting room with much of the furniture carved by Salem's golden boy Samuel McIntire. The back parlor is set up as a elegant breakfast room. Sorry my photo's are poor no flash photography allowed in the house

Corinthian capitals on the semicircular portico with semi-elliptical or semi-circular fanlight with flanking sidelights (which were original covered with 22 caret gold leaf)

Neoclassical Cast iron fence in the front of the home.  

The dinning room

The first parlor is set up as a setting room with much of the furniture carved by Salem's golden boy Samuel McIntire.

 Elegant Federal sofa carved by Samuel McIntire covered in black horse hair

 Elegant Federal side chair carved by Samuel McIntire covered in black horse hair

Neoclassical door frame carved by Samuel McIntire

Detail of flower urn on Neoclassical door frame carved by Samuel McIntire

Neoclassical gilt and painted curtain cornice carved by Samuel McIntire

Neoclassical mantel carved by Samuel McIntire

Neoclassical opening between parlors carved by Samuel McIntire

Neoclassical opening between parlors carved by Samuel McIntire

Old Master painting of Cleopatra

The elegant breakfast room in the back parlor

elegant breakfast room

Hamilton Hall built in 1805 Salem, Massachusetts

Hamilton Hall built 1805

A little over a year ago I was in Salem and had a opportunity to tour Hamilton Hall a beautiful Federal building built in 1805 as a assembly hall from plans by Samuel McIntire, the renowned architect and wood carver of Salem, and was named in honor of Alexander Hamilton. A longtime gathering place for the region's cultural and social elite. The hall, named for America's first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, cost $22,000 to build. In the heart of the beautiful McIntire Historic District, Chestnut Street is lined with beautiful houses, many originally built by sea captains and merchants between 1790 and 1830, during Salem’s “Great Age of Sail.”

Hamilton Hall served as the gathering place for local Federalists, the political party of wealthy ship owners. The proprietors and their invited guests attended regularly scheduled assemblies where they danced the cotillion, the minuet, and the rigadoon. At ten o'clock the attendees might troop upstairs for a brief repast prepared by the hall's legendary caterer, African American John Remond. The evening ended at exactly the stroke of midnight, often in the middle of a dance.



In its early decades Hamilton Hall was also the setting for auctions, plays, concerts, and charity fairs. Special events included a Charles Dickens Tea Party and a Leap Year Party. The latter was a 19th century version of the Sadie Hawkins dances of recent decades. Men were invited to attend by a woman, and once the dancing began the women took the lead in choosing partners.



The hall's second floor grand ballroom hosted a number of galas honoring important early-19th century political and military leaders. Among them were Salem resident and statesman Timothy Pickering, Massachusetts Gov. Christopher Gore, and William Bainbridge, commodore of the frigate Constitution.



One of Hamilton Hall's most exciting moments was a party honoring the Marquis de Lafayette during his second visit to Salem in 1824. Approximately 300 gentlemen of the town joined in toasting the beloved Frenchman in the hall which had been decorated for the occasion by their wives and other local women.



The design of the building is amazing with wonderful Federal detail. The main ballroom is known for it's spring floor,an innovation that renowned architect Samuel McIntire included to allow guests to dance for hours without undue fatigue. Large grand 1850's gold gilt Rococo Revival pier and mantel mirrors and Henry Hooper & Co gas light fixtures originally installed as gasoliers and gas flower wall brackets add a Victorian feel to the classic Federal woodwork of the building. If you are ever in Salem stop by. They are open to the public.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette

 

The side of the building has delicate Palladian windows and carved inset panels by Samuel McIntire of a eagle and drapery festoons

The side of the building has delicate Palladian windows and carved inset panels by Samuel McIntire of a eagle 

The side of the building has delicate Palladian windows and carved inset panels by Samuel McIntire of a drapery festoons

Down stairs mantel

Boston Classical server

Band stand

Grand Ballroom

1850's Rococo Revival mirror over a Federal period mantel

The grand ballroom

Rococo Revival pier mirror

Detail of mirror

late 1840's Gasolier made of gilt bronze and green and gold Boston and sandwich glass by Henry Hooper & Co of Boston. In the 19th century fresh flowers would be placed in the center green glass vase of the gasolier

late 1840's Gasolier made of gilt bronze and green and gold Boston and sandwich glass by Henry Hooper & Co of Boston. In the 19th century fresh flowers would be placed in the center green glass vase of the gasolier

late 1840's gas wall bracket in the shape of a morning glory made of gilt bronze and Boston and sandwich glass by Henry Hooper & Co of Boston.

late 1840's gas wall bracket in the shape of a morning glory made of gilt bronze and Boston and sandwich glass by Henry Hooper & Co of Boston.

Drapery tieback in the shape of a morning glory attributed to Henry Hooper & Co of Boston. The ballroom probably has tiebacks like this at one time that match the gas light fixtures

Rococo Revival mirror and gas bracket

Upstairs reception room with a pair of Boston classical sofas

Rococo Revival mirror in the Marquis de Lafayette room

Upstairs reception room with a of Boston classical sofa