By Kimberly Falchek
As Salem, Massachusetts celebrates its 400th anniversary this year, Historic Salem, Inc. will be spotlighting several local historic homes and focusing on the stories of their original owners as well as the people who currently reside in these houses. Welcome to the William Murray House, the first home in this new series.
Cassidy Smith didn’t set out to own a piece of Salem history. Five years ago, she was simply looking at real estate in the area and happened to walk by a house on the corner of Turner and Essex Streets. That is when a “for sale” sign on the lawn caught her interest. She inquired about the property and soon discovered that it required considerable work. Luckily, Cassidy grew up in an older home in another part of the state and wasn’t afraid of taking on a renovation. She decided to purchase the front half of the two-unit building, and with the help of her handy parents, transformed this rare 1688 house into a beautiful home.
There are only a handful of First Period buildings still standing in Salem, and this house just happens to be one of only two resident-owned properties from this time period. Built on the site of an orchard, the house was first owned by William and Mary Murray. William made his living as a local cooper (a maker or repairer of barrels and casks). But what I find even more interesting is that Murray also had several ties to the Salem Witch Trials. Not only was he a county clerk who recorded some of the accused examinations, but he also testified against his neighbor, Alice Parker, who lived nearby at 54-58 Derby Street. Parker was later executed for witchcraft.
Early on, the house was expanded into the two dwellings that it is today. For many years, the units were occupied by several members of the Murray family. Eventually, a tradesman, a dressmaker, a mariner, and many others became residents of the property. Cassidy Smith is now the proud owner of this Historic Derby Street Neighborhood home.
I had the opportunity to speak with Cassidy earlier this month, and I asked her what it is like to own such a historic property. As we sat and talked in her kitchen, whose focal point is a massive brick fireplace (her favorite historical feature of the house), Cassidy told me that she didn’t know very much about the Essex Street home when she first put in an offer to purchase it. However, she learned more about the house’s past life and renovations as she closed on the property.
As we chatted about the history of the building, Cassidy told me that one of the things she finds most fascinating about the home is that it has adapted and evolved with the various owners throughout so much time. I myself can only imagine what a house older than our country has witnessed over the centuries.
While Cassidy was prepared for the renovations that a historic home presented, there were still a few things that she didn’t expect. For one, she was surprised to find out that her new home had its own Wikipedia page. And as soon as tourist season started, Cassidy quickly realized her house was a frequent stop for trolley and walking tours.
Despite having tourists gather and occasionally film social media reels outside her house, Cassidy enjoys residing in such a historic home and thriving old neighborhood. She loves visiting the local restaurants and enjoys the small size of the city.
Like William and Mary Murray and other previous residents of this Historic Derby Street Neighborhood home, Cassidy has turned this property into her own. While she has updated the house and put her personal touches on it, she has also preserved many historical aspects (including that gorgeous fireplace). And Cassidy also added something else to the home – a Historic Salem House History plaque. Although previous owners had purchased an HSI house history, there was no plaque on the house when Cassidy bought the property. A replacement plaque reading, “Built for WILLIAM MURRAY, Cooper, and his wife Mary, c. 1688”, is now displayed on the exterior of the home for all to see.
You can find out more about ordering a house history or a replacement plaque on HSI’s website.
