From bed-chamber to classroom…

In week two of our test tours, we’ll be sharing the story of The Gables as a center of art and culture.

We are in the second week of sharing the stories about the Dining Room Chamber/Secret Room with our visitors. In week one, our staff shared the story of the space as a bed-chamber from 1668 – 1883. This week, we’re focusing on the Upton family who owned the house from 1883 – 1908.

The Uptons were well-known in Salem as leaders in the arts world of the late-nineteenth century. Henry O. Upton was a popular teacher of dance and musician. His son, J. Henry, taught music and pianoforte. His daughter, Henrietta, was a graduate of Emerson College and was a teacher of oratory. The Upton family listed the original address of the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, 54 Turner Street, as both a home and a business from 1886 until they sold the home to Caroline Emmerton in 1908.

Another daughter, Ida Upton Paine, is credited with the creation of the Witch Cup–one of the first souvenirs to be sold in Salem at the city’s start of becoming a tourism destination. Though Ida didn’t live at the house, she was a frequent visitors. Her cups and other artwork were sold at the mansion when the family started offering tours and sharing the history and Hawthorne connections to many that knocked on their door.

We hope you get the chance to visit us in the coming weeks and to try a “sample” of one of the unique stories we’ll be sharing as we finalize details to open up the room officially in 2018–the 350th anniversary of The Gables.