Murray, William, House
Why it's listed
Located at 39 Essex Street in Salem, this six-bay, 2 1/2-story house is one room deep and has clapboard walls. Its three eastern bays form a single-cell house built around 1688, which originally had overhangs on the south and east sides. Three bays were added on the west in the early 18th century, and the older roof was later raised to a shallower pitch. The two halves were owned separately from 1759 until the mid-19th century, so two small stair lobbies stand side by side. A 1980 restoration added beaded clapboards to the west part and a new central chimney. Exposed features include a chamfered summer beam with lamb's tongue stops and a chamfered post. Other early finishes remain behind newer walls. The house was listed because its two First Period frames show how local building methods changed, and because the concealed finishes could reveal more about what was apparently an elaborately decorated Salem house.
Significance in brief: The house has two First Period frames that show distinctive characteristics of form and construction (Criterion C). The second cell was added while the building was still in the First Period, which is typical of a larger group of First Period houses. The contrast between the c. 1688 section and the early 18th-century section shows how building techniques changed locally. Concealed First Period finishes could yield further information if exposed (Criterion D).
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 90000257, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 39 Essex St., Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000257 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period core/Second Period exterior |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in good condition and in use as a residence; restored in 1980. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.52349, -70.88556 (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 90000257.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8015964
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.