One of the things that really bugs me is the fact that often the Federal Street Overlay District gets a bum-rap. This really pisses me off.

Image courtesy of Mary Baker Eaton
The Federal Street Overlay
Looking towards the Old South Church,
in back of the Johnson and Bartlett houses

A little history here. The Catholic Church owned the land that is now the Federal Street Overlay District. On that land were/are two very historic homes. The William Johnson house (1777) and the William Bartlett house (1797.)

There were no promises from anyone, the corner office of Newburyport, MA at that time or the Catholic Church, that the Johnson and Bartlett houses would not be destroyed.

Image courtesy of Mary Baker Eaton
The front of the William Bartlett house

And in 2001 the William Bartlett house and the William Johnson house made it onto Preservation Massachusetts’ “Ten Most Endangered Historic Resource List.”

Today because of the Federal Street Overlay District and the good will of the Catholic Church, the Bartlett and Johnson Houses have been saved and lovingly restored.

Image courtesy of Mary Baker Eaton
The back of the William Johnson house

The William Bartlett house and the William Johnson house and the Federal Street Overlay District are one of Newburyport’s very proud preservation success stories.

Image courtesy of Mary Baker Eaton
The back of the William Johnson house
and the Federal Street Overlay from Ship Street

And we as a city owe many, many thanks to all the untold heroes that made this Newburyport preservation success story a reality.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport