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Fish Flake Hill Historic District |
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![[photo]](buildings/fis1.jpg "[photo]")
Fish Flake Hill Historic District
Photo courtesy of Betsy Friedberg, Massachusetts Historical Commission |
Situated on a ridge overlooking Beverly Harbor, the Fish Flake Hill Historic District is the oldest neighborhood in Beverly. The first colonial settlers, led by Roger Conant, came to the area from Salem, Massachusetts, in 1626. By 1668 the community broke away from Salem and established its name as Beverly. The dominant industry in the area quickly became fishing and shipping, because of its coastal location and the close proximity of Beverly Harbor. The name of the historic district is derived from the "flakes" or drying tables of the fish drying yards, which were found here until the late 19th century. The area served as the primary business district of the town until the mid-19th century.
![[photo]](buildings/fis2.jpg "[photo]")
Fish Flake Hill Historic District
Photo courtesy of Betsy Friedberg, Massachusetts Historical Commission |
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Beverly's maritime activity steadily declined after the Civil War, as did the residential neighborhoods, and the city became increasingly dependent on industry. In 1971, the Fish Flake Historic District was created by the City of Beverly to protect the area and foster improvements. The historic district contains 152 properties on 35 acres including the homes of several ship captains responsible for Beverly's early maritime success, such as the Captain William Gage House (pre-1750), the Captain Hugh Hill House (1780) and the Captain John Wallis House (1839). The district is primarily residential in character, composed of closely set houses constructed in the 18th and 19th centuries. Several commercial and industrial buildings—some associated with the district's heyday as a maritime center and others of more recent construction—are also included. Buildings are generally two or three stories in height.
The predominant building material in the district is wood, with brick seen in only one residential and several commercial buildings.
The Fish Flake Hill Historic District overlooks Beverly Harbor and is roughly bounded by Cabot, Bartlett and Water sts. in Beverly. The Essex National Heritage Area Commission offers an "Early Settlement Trail" tour, which includes the Fish Flake Hill Historic District. For further information on the "Early Settlement Trail", please call 978-740-0444 or visit the Essex National Heritage Area website.
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