38 Warren Street

History

This week, I invite you to delve into the rich history of the Ocean Mills Historic District, a pivotal part of Newburyport’s 19th-century industrial neighborhood.

It’s a place of profound significance, where the occupants were deeply involved in the thriving Ocean Steam Mills or the burgeoning shoemaking industry, a popular cottage industry in Newburyport. With its unique charm, the district stands out, distinct from the grandeur of the High Street district to the South and the bustling Merrimac Street shipbuilding area to the North.

Warren Street existed before 1830, and the town accepted it as laid out by George Burroughs on March 25, 1834. Initially, it was laid out only as far as Munroe Street. Later, it was extended to Ocean and, still later, as far as Eagle Street. Several of the homes at the foot of Warren Street near Merrimac Street were undoubtedly there prior to the establishment of the Ocean Steam Mills in 1845. This was one such home.

Warren Street flourished as a vibrant working-class neighborhood during the second half of the nineteenth century. A diverse array of cottage industries, including shoemaking, thrived in this area. These homes were not just modest single-family residences but also the abodes of skilled tradespeople such as shoemakers, carpenters, carriage makers, painters, and men associated with the Ocean Steam Mills, adding to the dynamic character of the neighborhood.