Salem Landry
Also known as: Hp-1
Why it's listed
Built in 1906 at 55 Lafayette Street, this four-story factory was the first concrete structure in Salem. It housed the Salem Laundry, a business the Hooper family operated from the late 1800s and moved to this site in 1906. The facade has three bays with large areas of steel-frame factory sash, and the central bay projects slightly. Piers of ashlar-tooled concrete block separate the bays, while the spandrels and fasciae are smooth and plainly detailed. The block imitates cut stone, a style typical of an intermediate stage in concrete block development that peaked between 1910 and 1920, so its use in Salem in 1906 is notable. The severe form and the use of block throughout, rather than as an accent, suggest an ambitious approach anticipating a more direct expression of the material. Apart from a one-story addition on the north side, the original structure remains intact. Part of the building now serves as a coin-operated laundry and dry cleaner.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the first concrete structure in Salem and an advanced example of contemporary technology. Its tooled, imitation-ashlar concrete block reflects an intermediate stage in concrete block development, unusually early for 1906. It is judged to meet criterion C and to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association.
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 83000583, listed July 29, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 55 Lafayette St., Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | July 29, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000583 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Functional |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used commercially; commercial laundry service has been reduced in favor of a small coin-operated laundry and dry cleaning business, and business offices remain in the building. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.52021, -70.89338 (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 83000583.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7404134
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.