The earliest section of this colonial home was built in West Peabody in approximately 1670 by Isaac and Patience Cook Goodale. In 1676, Giles Corey, age 65 was tried for beating to death one of his indentured farm workers, Jacob Goodale, brother to Isaac Goodale. Corey was charged with using unreasonable force, was found guilty and fined. This story surfaced again as evidence during the Salem witch trials, where Corey was found guilty of witchcraft and was pressed by stones for two days until he died.
In 1928 the house was reconstructed at 153 Argilla Road near Russell Orchards in Ipswich by Robert Lincoln and Susan Goodale. First Period elements include 5 fireplaces and a large central chimney, diamond leaded pane casement windows, hand carved raised paneling, a steep pitched roof, bare clapboards and trim, board and batten doors, and chamfered summer beams.
Most first-story summer beams run in a longitudinal direction from the end-to chimney-girt but in this house we find transverse summer beams on the first floor, functioning as binding beams. The first-story transverse summer is almost exclusively an Essex county phenomenon. The house is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.
View a slide show of the house, grounds and interior provided by Kristal Pooler and Associates.
Historical Narrative
By the Ipswich Historical Commission. from the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS)
According to tradition, Robert Goodale moved from Salem to what is now Peabody in 1669 and built the house for his son Isaac shortly thereafter. Stylistic features suggest a construction date closer to 1700, however. The owner of the house in the early 18th century, Samuel Goodale, is listed in Salem records as a carpenter.
The house remained in the hands of the Goodale family until November, 1915, 246 years later, when it was conveyed to Charles R. Stackpole of Nahant by Jacob Oscar Goodale. In December 1915 it passed to Walter H. Southwick of Nahant, and then, in April of 1918, onto Lyman G. Smith of Cambridge. After Mr. Smith’s death, it was conveyed in September of 1921 to Josephine Turck, a widow.
In January 1929, Robert Lincoln Goodale, a practicing physician and collateral descendant of the original owners, bought the house for sentimental reasons and for its preservation. The house was dissembled and moved to its present location in Ipswich in the summer of 1929, and rebuilding and restoring the house to First Period appearance was undertaken by carpenter Eugene Dow. Dr. and Mrs. Robert Goodale were representative of a number of owners on the north shore who purchased and restored First Period buildings for summer homes or permanent residences. The restoration was, by early 20th century standards, a careful one and a significant example of the early 20th century restoration movement. No materials were brought in from other old buildings, and where historical material was missing, replacement materials replicated those already existing in the house.
In 1990 the owners established a preservation restriction agreement (“covenant”) for this house with the Ipswich Historical Commission, protecting the house from demolition by present and future owners, and protecting following elements: front and rear facades, stone steps, windows, frame, roof, fireplaces, doors, sheathing, cornices, staircases, and girts. The land surrounding the house is also protected by a conservation agreement with the Essex County Greenbelt Association.
View more details at the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS)
Maisie Crowther provided the following 4 photos. The first two were taken in Danvers/W. Peabody 1928-9. The next two show the reconstruction in Ipswich, 1929-30.
Isaac Goodale House,153 Argilla Road Preservation Agreement
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- Argilla-153-goodale-preservation-agreement-page2
- Argilla-153-goodale-preservation-agreement-page3
- Argilla-153-goodale-preservation-agreement-page4
Recent photos
Historic Ipswich 
Hi,
I am an architect and descendent of Robert Goodale. I live in Lexington and would love to see the house. Is this possible?
Thanks!
Hi Ned. I am a descendant of Zachariah Goodale, younger brother of Isaac. I am wondering what you found out about seeing the home. I live is Seattle but hope to do a family genealogy tour in the next couple of years and would also love to see this home.
You would have to ask the owners. http://ipswich.patriotproperties.com/default.asp
Another decendant here love this article
It’s set back behind Russell Orchards (formerly Goodale). You would have to contact the owners to visit the property.
I too am a descendant and tried to visit the house in June 2019. The owners of Russell Orchards talked with the then new owners and it seemed possible. However, when I drove up, the owner came out and asked me to leave the property and would not allow even exterior photos. Very disappointing. Perhaps it was too soon after moving in – maybe they have softened. I did visit by phone with Maisie Crowther and many of the old photos on this site, she also sent me by email.
I too am a direct descendent as Jacob Oscar Goodale was my great grandfather. My grandfather was Perley Goodale who lived in West Peabody with my grandmother Edith Stevens Goodale. Their children were Perley Goodale, Marian Goodale (my mother), and Edna Goodale were born and brought up on and around the Goodale farm in West Peabody. History of the Goodales goes back to 1632+/-.
I too am one of the approximately 7.5 million descendants of Isaac Goodale and his son Zachariah across the nation. It would be nice if this home was opened for tours by the interested public a few times per year.