Caldwell Block
National Register of Historic Places

Caldwell Block

Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts
Listed
July 6, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83003434

About this property

The Caldwell Block is a historic block on S. Main Street in Ipswich, Massachusetts. It is the oldest surviving building in Ipswich that was designed as a commercial and retail space, and is still used for that purpose. It is located prominently in the center of Ipswich, at the junction of North and South Main Streets, and Central and Market Streets. It was built in 1870 by Luther Caldwell, on the site of an old woolen mill that was destroyed by fire a few years earlier, and features Italianate styling. The building has always housed retail stores on the ground floor and office space above. It is notable as the location of the offices of writer John Updike between 1961 and 1974, when he wrote many of his works there. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Location

Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts
42.67961, -70.83756

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Choate Bridge
Colonial
0 mi
Wilson, Shoreborne, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Bailey House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Grant, Benjamin, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Meetinghouse Green Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Bombardment of Gloucester 1775
1775Revolutionary War
9.9 mi
Battle of Gloucester (Massachusetts, 1775)
1775Revolutionary War
10 mi
Raid on Gloucester (Cape Ann)
1775Revolutionary War
10 mi
Naval Action off Cape Ann (1776)
1776Revolutionary War
11.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Caldwell Block listed on the National Register?

Caldwell Block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 6, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Caldwell Block?

Caldwell Block is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Caldwell Block?

The period of significance for Caldwell Block is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Caldwell Block?

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