204 High Street

History

One of the earliest owners of this home, formerly 196 High Street, looks to have been Dr. Elbridge Gerry Kelley. It appears he owned the “Dexter House” across the street, 201 High Street. 204 High Street (then 196), along with several other properties, was sold at auction by Kelley.

Dr. Kelley served as the city’s first dentist and was briefly Mayor of Newburyport from 1871 to 1872. The following year, in 1873, the Kelley School was built and named after Mayor Kelley, ironically, as he actively fought to prevent its opening.

204 High Street (then 196) was later owned, what appears to have been a rental property, by Leander Moore Brown Jr. during the early part of the 20th century.