Monroe, Bessie, House
Also known as: Hp-3
Why it's listed
Seven Ash Street in Salem is a two-story brick house completed in 1811 by Thomas Perkins, a prosperous merchant from nearby Topsfield. Perkins first rented it to his brother, a chairmaker, who lived there until his death. Its hip roof carries twin chimneys on the front slope, and the five-bay facade is centered on a classically detailed fanlit doorway, the only decorative feature. Quoins, six-over-six sash and a granite basement complete the restrained Federal vernacular design. Brick was relatively uncommon in Salem at the time, so the house stood out even among its modest neighbors. Those neighbors were demolished through urban renewal. Bessie Monroe, the longtime owner and occupant, lived there until about 1975. The Redevelopment Authority acquired the property but allowed her to remain, which postponed demolition until the renewal plan shifted toward restoration. The house was then sold to an owner interested in restoring it. It is recognized for its architectural clarity and integrity.
Significance in brief: The house is notable for the clarity of its Federal vernacular design and as a surviving remnant of an early 19th century neighborhood erased by urban renewal. Brick construction was relatively rare in Salem when it was built. The form finds it retains integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship and association, and meets criterion C.
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 83000580, listed July 29, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7 Ash St., Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | July 29, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000580 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built by Thomas Perkins (original owner) |
| Architectural style | Federal (Federal vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use; the form states it was not altered or moved and was sold to an owner interested in restoring it after Bessie Monroe's death. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.52361, -70.89482 (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 83000580.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4896486
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.