In Essex County, you will discover more houses constructed by America's earliest settlers than anywhere else in the country. The buildings the early settlers constructed between 1625 and 1725 came to be known as the "First Period" of American architecture—from the early days of European settlement to the beginning of the American "Georgian" period. This style is easily recognized by such features as a second floor "overhang," a steeply-pitched roofline and lean-to additions, a prominent central chimney, and asymmetrical casement windows.

Today some of these houses are found in rural settings, where the pristine North Shore landscape truly transports visitors to another era. Others are nestled within developed communities, living side-by-side with more modern architecture. We are fortunate these colonial-era houses still stand because they conjure up images of family life and hard work in the founding days of America.

Dates and Designations

Determining exact construction dates for America’s earliest surviving wood-framed structures is extremely challenging. To assign even an estimated date experts must rely upon a close examination of a building’s site, floor plan, timber frame, and architectural finishes as well any written documents that may exist, such as deeds, wills, and journals. In some cases, the publicized construction date is a “traditional date” that has been passed down by one building owner to the next as part of the community’s oral history. more...