Salem in Essex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Narbonne House
Salem Maritime National Historic Site
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
The modest house in front of you is one of the oldest in Salem. Built in 1675, the Narbonne House is one of America's few surviving middle-class homes from the 17th century.
Thomas Ives, the building's first owner was a "slaughterer" or butcher. Later residents included a weaver, a shoreman, a tanner and several sailors. One of the last owners was Sarah Narbonne, a seamstress, who operated a tiny "cent shop" in the lean-to on the side of the building. Their lives have all left traces, which archaeological investigations have brought to light.
By 1760, a small brick-floored dairy in the backyard kept milk and cheese cool. Between 1780 and 1820, prosperous owners put up a handsome carriage house and narrowed the lean-to so a carriage could get past it.
Trash pits and privies in the back yard yielded more than 150,000 artifacts during archaeology investigations in the 1970s, giving us a better picture of the lives of Salem's tradespeople.
The backbone of maritime Massachusetts, however, was its middle class; the captains and mates of vessels, the master builders and shipwrights, the rope-makers and skilled mechanics of many different trades, without whom the merchants were nothing.
—Samuel Eliot Morison, Maritime History of Massachusetts, 1921
[Captions:]
(above)
this page online
(left) Broken and discarded pottery household goods include many high-quality ceramics as well as everyday wares.
(right) The Narbonne House in 1913
1. Original Home (1675)
2. Gambrel-roofed addition (1730s)
3. Lean-to (around 1800)
4. Carriage House (demolished 1965)
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1675.
Location. 42° 31.334′ N, 70° 53.222′ W. Marker is in Salem, Massachusetts, in Essex County. Marker can be reached from Derby Street, on the left when traveling east. The marker is halfway between Essex St and Derby St, on the National Park Service walkway that runs from the Narbonne house (71 Essex St) south to Derby St. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 71 Essex St, Salem MA 01970, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Custom House Place (within shouting distance of this marker); The Hawkes House (within shouting distance of this marker); Derby House
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Also see . . . Narbonne House - Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Excerpt:
In 1963, the National Park Service purchased the historic building from the family of Mary Narbonne’s nephew Frank Hale. One of the things that makes this building so special is its history of nearly 300 years of continued occupation, 200 years of which are members of one family.(Submitted on September 23, 2023, by Michael Cleary of Salem, Massachusetts.)
Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 145 times since then and 21 times this year. Last updated on September 23, 2023, by Michael Cleary of Salem, Massachusetts. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 19, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
