Shepard Block
Also known as: Hp-6
Why it's listed
Four red brick rowhouses at 298-304 Essex Street in Salem make up the Shepard Block, built in 1850-51 by Michael Shepard, a prominent local merchant who assembled the land in the late 1840s. The three-story Greek Revival row has houses three bays wide, each with two gabled dormers, twin chimneys at the party walls, a granite basement, and brownstone lintels and sills that contrast with the brick facade. Storefronts were added to three of the houses before 1900, and first floors were adapted to commercial use around 1890, yet the row keeps a traditional look. A brick rear ell was added after 1911. Similar structures stand at 5-9 Summer Street and at the Bowker Block on Essex Street, and the two blocks mark the western and eastern edges of Salem's renewal areas. The block was listed for its architecture as a distinguished example of investment housing of its period, and it retains its original location, design, materials and workmanship.
Significance in brief: The row is described as a distinguished example of residential construction for investment of its time. It keeps its traditional appearance despite storefronts added around 1890, and retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and associations. Together with the Bowker Block, it anchors Salem's renewal areas along Essex Street. It 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 83000584, listed April 15, 2014. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 298-304 Essex St., Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | April 15, 2014 |
| Reference number | 83000584 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built by original owner Michael Shepard |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is commercial/residential; storefronts were inserted on the first floor around 1890. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.52156, -70.89853 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 83000584.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7494416
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.