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Salem, Massachusetts was the site where the Federal Style of architecture first emerged in New England homes. In 1774, the British closed the port of Boston. With Boston’s closing, Salem emerged as the temporary capital of Massachusetts and became the leading trading port on the Atlantic coast. As the leading trading port, Salem possessed all of the factors necessary for impressive homes such as the Peirce-Nichols House and the Gardner-Pingree House to be built. Because of the enormous amount of commercial activity that occurred, Salem soon became a place of extreme wealth. The merchants of Salem traded goods all over the world. In fact, the first million-dollar fortune was recorded in Salem in 1799. This wealth facilitated the extravagance with which the homes could be built.(1) In addition to wealth, the patrons of the Federal Style in Salem were all politically active. The influx of money into Salem came at the time just following the Revolutionary War when political activism was still constantly on the minds of the inhabitants. Those who were most well off were also those who were most politically influential. It was these wealthy people who wanted to demonstrate their power and wealth through their showy homes. The fact that Salem was a merchant town ensured the presence of outside influences in all aspects of the Federalists’ lives, including their architecture. Merchants constantly had contact with Europe and saw the advances that were taking place in places like England. Salem’s greatest asset to the Federal Style architectural
movement was the presence of Samuel McIntire in the community. Without
anyone with the skill to execute the Federal Style’s complex woodwork designs,
the Federal Style would not have surfaced and enjoyed the same popularity
with which it did.(2)
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