Gedney and Cox Houses
Why it's listed
Two houses share a quarter-acre lot at 19 and 21 High Street in Salem, on the same bounds as the house lot shipwright Eleazer Gedney bought in 1664. The Gedney House was begun in the mid-1660s, enlarged around 1700, and given a two-story rear lean-to about 1800. In the early 1960s a builder removed most of its original and later trim. That loss exposed the timber frame, and the house is now valued as a study house for 17th-century Massachusetts construction, rivalled only by the Boardman House in Saugus. Later tree-ring dating placed the first phase in 1664 or possibly 1665 and the second phase in 1706. The smaller Cox House, a gambrel salt-box, was built about 1775, probably by Benjamin Cox, after the property had left the Gedney family. Both houses were acquired in 1967 by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, which preserved the Gedney frame and turned the Cox House into overseer's quarters.
Significance in brief: The Gedney House has been stripped of most of its trim, leaving the structural frame exposed, which makes it one of the most important study houses of 17th-century Massachusetts architecture. The property is also significant in local history as the homestead of Eleazer Gedney, a prominent figure in 17th-century Salem. The Cox House is an integral part of the same house lot.
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 74000389, listed October 1, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 21 High St., Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | October 1, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000389 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 17th and 18th centuries; specific dates 1665, 1700 and 1800 |
| Architect / builder | Eleazer Gedney (Gedney House); probably Benjamin Cox (Cox House) |
| Architectural style | First Period (17th-century) house with 18th-century salt-box profile; Cox House is a one-and-a-half story gambrel salt-box |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, which acquired both houses in 1967; the Gedney frame is preserved for study and the Cox House was adapted as overseer's quarters. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.51843, -70.89756 (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 74000389.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5529716
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.