Date Of Visit: December 6, 2025

Location: 7 Chestnut St, Salem, MA (about 30 minutes northeast of Boston, MA)

Universally Accessible: No

Cost: $40 per ticket ($50 if you purchase day of tour tickets)

Parking: There are several parking garages in Salem, as well as metered on street parking.

Summary: Home to Deacon John Stone, the home sat 7 Chestnut St had some impressive decor and many original pieces.

Built circa 1827 by architect William Lummus, 7 Chestnut St was commissioned by Deacon John Stone as a rental property while the Stone Family resided at 2 and 8 Chestnut St (the Deacon was doing very well for himself apparently). Early tenants included the Reverend W.R. Babcock, minister of the Baptist Church and, later, James E Sprague, the high sheriff of Essex County.

The house, located on the right side entryway, is known for both its yellow exterior and the asymmetrical double-house design – a rarity in its time. The left side of the house features 4/3 pane windows, dormers and a rectangular entryway, while the right side presents similar windows paired with an arched double-door entry. Above the entryway, a rounded bay window provides additional changes from the left side.

As mentioned above, the home has very unique characteristics from the outside. The exterior of the building was decorated for the holidays.

This decor above the door stood out to me.

The line to get in to the houses can be long. So, we all took delight when these carolers stopped by. On cue, as the were singing, a light snow began to fall.

Eventually, we entered the home of Deacon John Stone, said to be the largest producer of rum in the area. The Deacon had his fingers in a lot of pots, apparently.

In the entryway, we were greeted by some musicians and signers playing holiday songs.

The home had a lot of vintage or original pieces.

The floors were said to have been original to the home.

And the wallpaper was either the original or a replica of the original wallpaper. It never ceases to amaze me how the wallpaper on these homes have lasted so long, especially since people smoked in these homes in the past. I have to paint my walls every few years.

This Berger chair is a vintage piece that would have been common when this house was built.

And I thought my recliner was comfortable.

The house was decorated for the holidays.

As the two trees suggest, there were indeed two separate rooms for dinner parties, festivities and other communal events. However, as was custom at the time, the men would congregate in one room while the women gathered in the other room. Some couples may still wish this custom was in vogue.

I had never seen ornaments of the early leaders of the country before.

Of course, the lighting fixtures caught my eye, especially since this one reminded me of a light we had in my childhood home sans the greenery.

This original fireplace has a very rare marble.

I always enjoy seeing the molding on the ceilings from which the lights hang from.

But, the holiday cheer didn’t end with the interior of the home. As we left the home, this decor was on the back porch.