Historic House Blog

Members of the Goodale family have lived in this home for about 330 of the last 340 years. The house was originally built by Robert Goodale for his son Isaac in 1668. The Goodale house was built on the family’s 500 acre property in Salem, and was farmed by generations of Goodales until it was sold out of the family in 1915. Another Goodale purchased it in 1928 and had it dismantled and rebuilt in Ipswich, where it stands today ready for its next owner.

The saltbox house features 4 working fireplaces, diamond-pane leaded windows (a couple of which are thought to be original – rare indeed), massive chamfered summer beams, original exposed brick walls, hand-carved paneled walls, and many original hand-forged iron hinges. As spectacular as the house is, it also sits on a very impressive piece of property- 41 acres of nature-lover’s paradise with a view of Choate Island, the salt marsh, and Crane Island Beach. 

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Ipswich and the North Shore of Boston offers one of the highest concentrations of First Period (1625-1725) architecture on the East Coast. The town of Ipswich lays claim to having more colonial houses than any other town in America. It is home to the 1677 Whipple House, called by many the “gem of first period architecture,” and open to the public as a museum house in the Spring and Summer. This year is a great time to visit Ipswich- it’s the town’s 375th birthday and there are numerous events planned throughout the year, including many that highlight Ipswich’s 17th-century architectural heritage. Check out the schedule at http://www.ipswichma375.org/.

The house and 41 acres are both protected by several protective preservation and conservation easements which prevent the house from being modified in a way that ruins its historical integrity, and prevents the land from being subdivided or developed. This incredible property is available for $ 1.4 Million and is offered for sale by Kristal Pooler of Kristal Pooler & Associates (If you’re a Goodale, you might want to ask for a discount). Click here for more details, and also check out the recent article on the property from the Boston Globe.