Derby Summerhouse
Why it's listed
This small garden house in Danvers, Massachusetts, was designed and built by Salem craftsman Samuel McIntire in 1793-94 for the farm of merchant Elias Hasket Derby. It is a twenty-foot-square frame building. A heavier lower story with wooden quoins and arched windows supports a lighter upper room, where tea was served, framed by fluted Ionic pilasters and topped with a pedimented gable. Two nearly life-size wooden figures, a gardener and a shepherdess, sit on the ridgeline. John and Simeon Skillin of Boston carved them in 1793, and they are described as among the earliest surviving American sculpture. The original shepherdess, damaged by fire, is in the Peabody Institute, and the current figure is a reproduction. In 1901 the building was moved to the Glen Magna Estate and set in a formal garden designed by Herbert Browne in 1904. It is valued as a rare, refined example of Federal-style garden architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a rare and excellent example of a formal eighteenth-century garden house, with the lightness of detail typical of the Federal style. It is the work of Salem craftsman-carpenter Samuel McIntire. Its two life-size wooden roof figures, carved by John and Simeon Skillin in 1793, are described as some of the earliest surviving sculpture made in America.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 68000020, listed November 24, 1968. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Magna Estate, Ingersoll St., Danvers |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | November 24, 1968 |
| Reference number | 68000020 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1793 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel McIntire; figures carved by John and Simeon Skillin of Boston |
| Architectural style | Federal (Adamesque) with Palladian influence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated November 24, 1968 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered. The building was moved in 1901. The Danvers Historical Society received it by bequest in 1958 and has since repaired, repainted and reroofed it. The Milkmaid figure is a reproduction. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Salem Village Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.57319, -70.96611 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 68000020.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5261514
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.