146 High Street

History

Across from the Bartlet Mall and the Court House on Newburyport's main residential thoroughfare, is this Greek Revival home. This house is Greek Revival in style as were so many of the homes that were built during the middle of the nineteenth century.

This house is unusual however in the degree of simple details that was used. Often the Greek Revival influence is seen only in the doorway and cornice of the building. In this case the windows are ornamented with bull's eye cornerblocks as is the enclosed main entrance. The porch itself is supported by fluted Greek Ionic columns. The front door is flanked by sidelights with a large oblong light above. It is flanked with Ionic pilasters. The other doorways are simple yet typically Greek Revival.

Richard Wiggin Drown (1795-1888) purchased this parcel of land from the trustees of the will of Jonathan Greenleaf in 1842. Shortly thereafter he built the two-story dwelling, now 146 High Street.

Drown was born in South Newmarket, New Hampshire in 1795. He came to Newburyport at the age of about fifteen and took up the trade of a watch and clock maker. He built his shop in the second quarter of the 19th century. The shop was located on Merrimack Street opposite the foot of Green Street for many years. The property remained in the Drown family until the late 19th century and later became home to Davis Auto Electric, also known as the "Carburetor Building" because of the iconic neon sign, and is now the location of The Black Cow restaurant. That building is also significant, because it is one of few gambrel roof brick buildings in Newburyport.

Mr. Drown lived in this house until his death in 1888. At that time he made bequests to the Howard Benevolent Society and to the Ladies General Charitable Society. He also left his home to his son Thomas S. Drown to line in until his death at which time it was to be conveyed to the North Congregational Church and society, "to be used only as a parsonage for said church forever." Drown used the rest of his estate to set up a fund for the care of indigent men.