Ropes Mansion, 1727
Renovated in 1894 by Stone, Carpenter & Wilson
Peabody Essex Museum
Salem in History, 2006
Ropes Mansion,1727
Renovated in 1894 by Stone, Carpenter & Wilson
Salem, MA
HISTORICAL
CONTEXT
When the Ropes Mansion was renovated in 1893-4, two important movements in U.S. cultural history were
highly influential on the family’s alteration choices: the Colonial Revival and professionalizing domestic arts,
especially cooking.
In 1876, the United States celebrated its first centennial, which inspired interest in and nostalgia for the colonial
era. Adding colonial “touches” to homes continued into the early decades of the twentieth century, and it was
viewed as an anecdote to an increasingly urban environment. The interpretation of what was “colonial,” however, was often quite liberal and was based more on what seemed to be in the “spirit” of earler days rather
than adhering to what little was then known about actual colonial period furnishings and lifestyle.
At the same time, America’s first formal cooking schools and scientific cookbooks appeared. Fannie Farmer is
one of the most recognized leaders of this movement. Her first Boston Cooking School Cook Book was published in 1896. Her books applied science to the skill of cooking, whether for professional cooks or housewives. During the nineteenth century, U.S. cooking schools provided classes to train servants and to “professionalize” domestic work for housewives. The Boston Cooking School was one of the most influential of the
period.
A R T
H I S T O R I C A L
C O N T E X T
This home was originally built for a merchant in 1727. It is named, however, for Judge Nathaniel Ropes, Jr.,
whose family occupied the house until 1907, when the home was turned over to a trust for preservation.
One of the most significant renovations to the home occurred from 1893-4. Originally, the house was built in
the Georgian style, with a symmetrical façade, balanced proportions, and minimal, classical ornament. During
the 1890s, the Ropes family decided upon changes that introduced both “Colonial Revival”1 elements and also
the most modern, efficient, “professional” appliances in the updated kitchen.
IOn the exterior, the existing doorwary was replaced with a design published by the American Federal period
(c. 1780 to 1830) architect, Asher Benjamin. It is more scultpural (three dimensional) than a typical Georgian
entryway (see the Crowninshield-Bentley home). In contrast, the kitchen was updated with interior plumbing,
a hot water heater with a copper storage tank, a new gas-burning stove, electricity, and a clean, open spatial
design. An image of the kitchen is available on-line at:
http://www.saleminhistory.org/IndustriousPeople/UPSTAIRSdownstairs/primarysources.htm
SAMPLE GUIDING QUESTIONS
• Describe the exterior and kitchen of the Ropes Mansion (visit the Ropes Mansion or see above for
link to photo of the kitchen).
• Can you form a hypothesis about the date of this house based on the material evidence that you see?
• Why might a family want the latest amenities (electricity, hot water, etc.), but opt for a facade that is
inspired by the colonial period?
• Can you think of historic styles that influence new architecture today? What aspects or values from
those historic periods do you think architects or owners want to suggest about their homes today?
SUGGESTED LEARNING ACTIVITIES
• Visit the kitchens at the Ward House, Crowninshield-Bentley House, Gardner-Pingree House, and
Ropes Mansion. Ask students to not only consider how the technology changes, and how those
changes appear to affect domestic labor. Keep in mind the different social classes represented here.
Who cooked in these homes? Were servants present? From where might they have come? What
other employment options might servants have had at the time?
2003 Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Frameworks: 3.9, 3.12, USI.28
Peabody Essex Museum
Salem in History 2006