Hale, Reverend John, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1694 on Hale Street in Beverly, this house was the home of Rev. John Hale, the town's first settled minister. The original two-and-a-half-story section runs east-west, and town records describe lumber granted to Hale for the frame, which tradition says reused timbers from his earlier 1665 house across the street. In 1745 a gambrel-roofed wing was added facing the street, and its pedimented entrance is now the main door. Further ells and a 20th-century caretaker's addition followed, and the whole house is covered in grey clapboard. Inside are early ornamental hardware and a room with its original 1745 hand-blocked English wallpaper. Hale was ordained in 1667, served until his death in 1700, and took part in the 1692 witchcraft trials. After his own wife was accused, public confidence in the accusers collapsed. In 1697 he wrote a treatise on witchcraft here. The house stayed in his family for twelve generations before passing to the Beverly Historical Society in 1937.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of Rev. John Hale, first settled minister of Beverly's first gathered church. He was involved in the 1692 witchcraft trials and wrote a 1697 treatise on witchcraft there. It also shows the evolution of a house from 1694 through 1745 and later, and stayed in the Hale family for 12 generations.
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 74000364, listed October 9, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 39 Hale St., Beverly |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | October 9, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000364 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 17th and 18th centuries (specific dates 1694 and 1745) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and altered; owned by the Beverly Historical Society (acquired 1937), used as a museum, with a caretaker living in a rear addition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.54907, -70.87440 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 74000364.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6237259
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.