Historic doorways of Old Salem

by Mary Harrod Northend

Old Salem, Massachusetts, has long been the Mecca of all pilgrims who seek what is purest and most distinctive in Colonial architecture; for here as nowhere else is to be found a collection of old-time houses bearing the stamp of those traits of simplicity, dignity, reserve, and permanence which we believe to be most typical of the character of the American people.

The explanation of this fact is found in a number of circumstances. First, in the location of the town, which led to its early importance as a shipping center and port of entry; second, in the quality of its settlers, who were of earnest purpose and serious determination in the business of home-making; third, in their continuous intercourse with the mother country, resulting in a familiarity with her own architectural renaissance during the period involved, from 1626, the date of the founding of Salem, up to the year 1818, when the Colonial vogue began its decline and the Greek style gradually took its place; fourth, in the occupation of the people, which became more and more commercial, their merchant flags appearing in every harbor in the world, leading to increasing wealth, a familiarity with comfort and style, together with the means of securing and maintaining them; and last, but by no means least in importance, in the presence in Old Salem of that remarkable man Samuel McIntire, who as designer, builder, and cunning craftsman in wood, for a period of thirty years, from 1782 to the date of his untimely death in 1811, so guided the architectural taste of the Salem people, and so contributed to their building activities by the ingenious and beautiful productions of his own hands, as to leave upon the town a stamp of genius hardly paralleled in the world.

The doorways and porches of the loveliest old Salem homes owe so much either directly or indirectly to the influence of McIntire, that he might almost be termed the architect of Salem beautiful—as for over a quarter of a century he was its master-craftsman, working with an originality of conception, an ingenuity of combination, a freedom from hampering tradition, yet with a restraint and refinement of taste, which render his productions individual, beautiful, and noble, the true notes of the Colonial style at its very best.

CHAPTER III

THE EVOLUTION OF THE SALEM DOORWAY

The Salem doorway, like all institutions, architectural or otherwise, was the fruit of a gradual process of evolution or development from simple forms to those more elaborate and complete, and kept pace more or less evenly in this process with the changing character of the buildings of which it formed a part. Almost two hundred years elapsed between the hasty erection of the first log cabins at Naumkeag in 1626 to the culmination of the Colonial vogue in 1818. Yet, two hundred years is a very brief time in which to complete a process of evolution such as this—comparing the rude aperture closed by its swinging shield of slabs, which formed the doorway of the earliest Salem dwelling, with the ornate, dignified, and beautiful entrance to a typical Salem home at the expiration of the period, with classic columns, fluted pilasters, carved rosettes and festoons, spreading fanlight with its spider-web tracery of leading, and paneled door set off by latch and knocker of shining brass. The truth is that this was a process of assisted evolution; for skilled English craftsmen, workers in wood and in iron were among the earliest settlers at Salem; they were familiar with the architectural forms and designs of the homeland; and working in the tractable material of white pine, they reproduced with increased effect the patterns which in the old country were necessarily wrought in stone.

The business of ship-building, rapidly increasing in the port, gave occupation to large numbers of carvers in wood, who produced ornate decorations in the captains’ cabins, and the famous figureheads which graced the bows of the old-time clippers. At off-seasons, these craftsmen found occupation in the builders’ trade; and thus in many ways the evolution of the ornamental doorway and porch was hastened.

It is possible to roughly divide the architecture of Old Salem into four or perhaps five general periods, which are determined by the type of dwelling most frequently erected during the time. As a matter of fact, these periods blend or overlap so that there is no sharp and distinct demarcation between them; it is sufficient to say that the doorways of Old Salem took form and character in keeping with the changing type of dwelling, simple with the simplicity of the structure, becoming more elaborate as the house became more ambitious and pretentious, and reaching their climax in ornateness with the three-story square mansions of brick which characterized the closing years of the Colonial period.

The earliest houses at Salem were, of course, mere cabins of logs, roughly and hastily built, utility being the only consideration. They were for shelter from the weather, and for protection against enemies, whether beasts or men. The doorway, therefore, was a mere opening in the log wall, which could be barred at a moment’s notice, converting the little hut into a sturdy fortress. In the first rude architecture of the colonists no thought was given—for in the exigencies of the situation none could be given—to style and attractiveness, utility being, through stern necessity, the prime factor in the construction of their simple homes.

A love of beauty, however, was by no means wanting; and this soon became evident in the beginning of decoration, simple enough, it is true, as was natural, but showing a desire to make the doorway, always architecturally speaking the keynote of the dwelling’s exterior, as attractive as possible.