53 High Street

History

This house is one of the earlier homes on High Street. The interior of the house has been renovated on several occasions, and today the home resembles many 18th-century homes. The simple cornice and window surrounds are classically inspired. The windows are double hung and have twelve lights.

The present doorway and entrance porch are pedimented and supported by Doric columns. This feature was added in the twentieth century, replacing a door that had been Victorianized.

Although this house is often referred to as the Daniel Hale house, there is no evidence that it was owned by a Daniel Hale. According to the historian John J. Currier, there were two houses on the Southwesterly side of High Street in 1700. One was owned by John Weed, the other by Benjamin Coker. The house at 53 High Street is located on the lot of land owned by John Weed. Weed purchased the land with house and barn thereon in 1695. Whether this house was standing at the time of that transaction is uncertain.

John Weed was one of the men from Newbury equipped in 1705 to wage a winter campaign against the Indian enemy in the French and Indian War. At the time of John Weed’s death, the house was conveyed to his wife Sarah. She died in 1768 and left the house to the executor of her estate, Ezra Hale, in trust, to hold during his life, and then to Rev. John Tucker, or to his successor in the ministry in the First Parish of Newbury, for the use of a school for the poor children of the parish.

In 1789 the house was sold to Edmund Knight. By this time, it appears that the house had been divided and was being sold in portions of the front and rear lean-tos. In 1795 Knight sold his portion to Richard Pike. In 1799 the main house was sold to Philip Coombs. The Coombs family were merchants and shipbuilders. In 1803 Coombs acquired the rear portion of the house from Abigail Allen. In 1821 the entire property was sold to Capt. Micajah Lunt, a very wealthy shipowner and merchant. Lunt owned the property until 1836, when it was sold to David P. Page. Page was principal of the English High School. Subsequent 19th-century owners of the house were the Page heirs and Sarah M. Currier.