West Cogswell House
Also known as: Hp-8
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Why it's listed
Three connected, three-story red brick rowhouses at 5-9 Summer Street in Salem form a unified Greek Revival block dating to 1834. Each house is three bays wide with a recessed side entry marked by a wood portico, and the roofline runs continuously across the row. An original wrought iron fence encloses a narrow areaway and sits on a granite sill that matches the steps and basement. Number 9 has lost its dormer and twin chimneys, and its slate roof has been replaced with asphalt shingles. Captain Nathaniel West, a leading Salem merchant captain who commanded a privateer during the Revolution and traded with the Far East, built the block. William Cogswell, a Civil War general, member of Congress and Mayor of Salem, later lived here. The row is one of three similar Greek Revival brick blocks marking the edges of downtown Salem, alongside blocks on Essex Street dated 1830 and 1851, showing how the type served both residential and commercial uses.
Significance in brief: The block is considered an urbane expression of the Greek Revival style. It is also tied to two prominent local figures, merchant captain Nathaniel West and later resident William Cogswell, a Civil War general, congressman and Mayor of Salem. It is one of three similar Greek Revival brick blocks anchoring the edges of downtown Salem.
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 83000589, listed July 29, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5-9 Summer St., Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | July 29, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000589 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built by Capt. Nathaniel West |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the number 9 unit has lost its dormer and twin chimneys, and its original slate roof was replaced with asphalt shingles. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.52094, -70.89827 (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 83000589.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7984855
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.