Here is the link to the map: Newburyport – Keeping the Story Alive, Mapping historic stories of Newburyport, MA houses and places, with photos, paintings, videos, old maps, history and anecdotes. Created by The Newburyport Blog, Mary Baker Eaton, editor. (This is one of the many stories that is on the map.)
The Dodge House, State Street
William and Dana Dodge, who were brothers, built a beautiful double house around 1846 on the corner of Harris and State Streets. William and his wife Ruth had no children, Dana was married to Abby and they had a large family. Dana manufactured and sold carriages on Liberty Street, tragically died at age 56 of a compound fracture of the leg and pneumonia leaving debts and his wife and children.
Detail of State Street
Courtesy of the New York Public Library
The Dodge House, State Street
Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center
Ruth, Abby’s sister-in-law, bought Dana’s side of the house with all the belongings. Abby and her children were forced to move out to 2 Harris Street, a smaller house behind the large Dodge House on State Street. Ruth and William rented out Dana and Abby’s side of the house in 1874, with Dana and Abby’s furnishings, the ad says “The house is in first rate order, containing eleven furnished rooms. Gas throughout, a good furnace and every way fitted for a genteel family.” It seems that over her life time Abby went to live with different sons and outlived them all except one. Abby Dodge died in Haverhill, living with her youngest son John.
Advertisement for Dana Dodge Carriages
Advertisement for Dana Dodge Carriages
It was decided that the YMCA would be built on the site of the Dodge House. In 1889 the Dodge house was moved, with its chimneys, to1-3 Garden Street where it exists in its altered form today as apartments. The large “Old Liberty Tree Elm” was cut down to move the house and to build the new structure.
Description of moving the Dodge House in the local Newspaper, August 23, 1889
“The moving of the Dodge house from State to Garden street was a lesson for building movers in this city. Nobody ever saw a large building so easily and quietly moved. It was not necessary to take down the chimneys, and had a family been living in it ethyl would have found no need of moving out. We don’t think a loud word was spoken, but every man had a place and knew what and when to do, and even the horses ere like trained animals that knew the master’s voice and delighted to obey.” – August 23, 1889
YMCA building, State and Harris Streets
Courtesy of the Museum of Old Newbury, the Snow Collection
The YMCA was completed in 1891, it was destroyed by a fire July 1987. On May 6, 2001 the newly expanded library opened and exists today at the corner of Harris and State Street. ~ History and research by Mary Baker Eaton
1888 Map of where the Dodge House was located on Garden Street
YMCA building, State and Harris Streets
Courtesy of the Museum of Old Newbury, the Snow Collection
State Street
Courtesy of the Newburyport Archival Center
Detail of State Street
Courtesy of the New York Public Library
Many thanks to the Newburyport Archival Center for all their help in researching this story.