The Great Estates of Ipswich

Many of the mansions of the North Shore are reminders of the “Gilded Age” of the late 19th and early 20th Century, a time of concentrated wealth as well as deep poverty. During this period of unprecedented economic and industrial expansion, approximately 10 million European immigrants came to the United States to find work. The Gilded Age saw its end with the Panic of 1893, a growing labor movement, and the Great Depression. Many of the great estates and mansions of the North Shore were donated to non-profit organizations or the state, while others were torn down to lower property taxes.

Four communities in Massachusetts, including Ipswich have a Great Estates Bylaw to encourage appropriate development and preservation of large estate properties, providing an alternative to demolition. The following stories are about large estates and grand houses in the Ipswich area.

Glen Magna and the Joseph Peabody Family of Salem - Article by Helen Breen Before the advent of the modern transportation, affluent city dwellers often built their summer residences within a few miles of home. Such was the case when shipping magnate Joseph Peabody (1757-1844), “the richest man in Salem,” chose Glen Magna in Danvers as his county seat during the War of 1812. Over … Continue reading Glen Magna and the Joseph Peabody Family of Salem

An autumn walk in the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary - These photos are from one of my favorite hikes in Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Sanctuary at 87 Perkins Row in Topsfield. Twelve miles of trails weave through an amazing mix of forests, meadows and wetlands, with great views of the Ipswich River from the central drumlin and two eskers that were left by retreating glaciers only 15,000 years ago. View the location at Google … Continue reading An autumn walk in the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

Riverbend, the Barnard estate (Marguery Restaurant), 1915 - For several decades, only the parking lot remained, visible from County Rd…. The George E. Barnard estate of Ipswich was originally a small four room farmhouse owned by Anthony Potter. It passed through several hands, with each owner adding more to the building. In 1899 it was renovated by George Edward Barnard, a manufacturer of fine shoes … Continue reading Riverbend, the Barnard estate (Marguery Restaurant), 1915

The Amazing Life of Nancy Astor - If you look at an online map you will often see a reference to “Nancy’s Corner” at the intersection of Highland Street and Cutler Road in Hamilton. I started researching who this Nancy was and discovered an amazing story. Nancy Witcher Langhorne was the daughter of a Virginian slaveholder whose family fell into poverty after the … Continue reading The Amazing Life of Nancy Astor

44 Mill Road, Holiday Hill, The William and Violet Thayer house (1897) - William Thayer was headmaster of St. Mark’s School in Southborough MA, and this was their summer home. Information and photos are provided by David Thayer. 

65 Waldingfield Road, Sunswick (1890) - In 1882, Bayard Tuckerman married Annie Osgood Smith, daughter of Rev. Cotton Smith and Hariette Appleton, daughter of General James Appleton. A lot on Waldingfield Rd. near Highland Street that had once belonging to Daniel Fuller Appleton was purchased in 1890 by Tuckerman. He built his summer house on a slight rise and named it ““Sunswick."

208 Topsfield Road, the Joseph and Judah Goodhue house (1767) - After the death of Chrales G. Rice in 1943, the Winthrop family purchased their farm and the old Goodhue house. The Winthrops built a large house close to the river, and left this house still standing.

5 Hemlock Drive: Fairview, the Charles Campbell estate (1900) - Hidden in the woods near the corner of County Rd. and Lakeman’s Lane is a beautiful “Tudor Revival” house, built in 1900 for Charles A Campbell. Thomas Franklin Waters wrote about the early history of the property in Volume II, Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony: “On the east side of the Bay Road, the great tract of pasture, tillage … Continue reading 5 Hemlock Drive: Fairview, the Charles Campbell estate (1900)

William Lampson -Bradley Palmer estate - When Roger Preston arrived in Ipswich he first purchased a lot along the river across from what is now the intersection of Turkey Shore and Labor in Vain Roads. The earliest town records show the lot belonging to William Lamson, who died Feb. 1, 1658. In Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Thomas Franklin Waters notes: “William Lampson … Continue reading William Lampson -Bradley Palmer estate

117 County Road, the Hellenic Center (1904) - Mrs. Anna P. Peabody purchased thiis property in 1903-4 and transformed the bare pastures into a beautiful estate which named Floriana. For many years it has served as the Hellenic Center for the town's Greek population.

54 South Main Street, the Ipswich Museum (1795) - This Federal-style structure was built in 1795 by John Heard, who became wealtthy as a privateer during the American Revolution. The house was purchased by the Ipswich Historical Society from the Heard family in 1939.

107 Argilla Road, Argilla Farm (1785) - In 1637, John Winthrop Jr. conveyed his farm to Samuel Symonds, who became Deputy-Governor of the Colony. It came into possession of Thomas Baker, who married one of Symonds' daughters. Allen Baker built the hip-roofed farm house in 1785. It was purchased by Ephraim Brown and inherited by his son Thomas.

Appleton Farms - Isaac Appleton built the original Appleton Farms "Old House" in 1688. The Trustees of Reservations assumed responsibility for the farm in 1998, and the renovated house is now a visitor center, telling the story of the family’s history from settlers to farmers to "gentleman farmers" over the course of 371 years.