Essex National Heritage Area
The Balch House
Beverly Visitors


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Beverly, Massachusetts
Telephone Number: 978-922-1186

Digging Up History.
Archaeological discoveries on the grounds of America's oldest House.


(The Early Settlement Trail)


Every day, thousands of people drive through Beverly along route 1A and unknowingly pass by an incredible piece of American history.


"The Balch House is considered the oldest standing timber-framed house in North America," said Dr. Emerson W. (Tad) Baker, assistant professor of history at Salem State College (SSC). "Architectural historians put its age at more than 350-years-old. This whole county of Essex is alive with history.


Preservation of such a treasure requires special care and historic interpretation to gain an understanding of what life was like for people three centuries ago.

Some experts trace the house's origin to 1636 when John and Agnes Balch first setted in Beverly. Archival documents from 1649 indicate at least two periods of renovation had already occurred, according to Baker. More study will be required for experts to pinpoint an accurate date and to understand how the Balch family actually lived.


The Balch House came under the protection of the Beverly Historical Society in the 1920s and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the early 1970s.


The creation of a 17th century garden on the front yard was the Beverly Historical Society's initial plan to draw attention to the significance of the Balch House. "Prior to breaking ground it was necessary to do an assessment of the grounds," determined David K. Goss, director of the Beverly Historical Society and visiting lecturer of history at SSC.


The next step was to conduct an archeological survey of the garden's intended location. Working together, Goss and Baker developed and implemented plans with the approval of the Massachusetts Historic Commission.


"It's a matter of good policy to take this opportunity to explore the grounds, before the soil is disturbed, and learn how the house evolved over time," said Goss.


Dr. Baker's team of Indiana Jones "wanna-bes" are still processing artifacts discovered last summer when seven SSC students earning credits in archeological field work and 12 part-time volunteers, spent three weeks on the delicate survey of the Balch House's front yard. "Where else can you find such intact colonial ground surfaces?" asked Baker.


During the excavation about 25 small plots were dug in a carefully spaced grid pattern. After two weeks of digging, a week was spent analyzing the unearthed pieces in SSC's archeological lab located on Central Campus. To date, 4,220 artifacts, respresenting almost 300 years, have been cataloged for storage and viewing in donated space at the Cummings Center in Beverly.


Considered the most remarkable find are post-holes, a feature of a prehistoric longhouse built about 1,000 AD and used by Native Americans. Among the artifacts collected are imported beads used for trade, cutlery and dishes, a 200-year-old belt buckle and Native American pottery.


"The study has significantly increased our visibility", said Goss. He and Baker plan to continue to get people involved in the exciting process of discovering the historical importance of the Essex National Heritage Area. Their goal is to ensure that through education and preservation, people realize the tremendous value of such treasures as the Balch House. They conclude that projects such as this can serve as a teaching tool for the entire community.


"By building a partnership among the Beverly Historical Society, Salem State College, Cummings Properties and the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the preservation and promotion of the Balch House has become a community project." Director David K. Goss, Beverly Historical Society.



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