Buildings of New England

Built circa 1670 and today known as the Holten House, this large, First Period home can be found in Salem Village, present day Danvers, Massachusetts. While the house has been significantly expanded over the years, the original structure is at the eastern (right) end of the house that stands today and grew as families and living styles grew. The residence was first built for Benjamin Holten (Houlton) and was later occupied by Sarah Holten, who in 1692 gave testimony against Rebecca Nurse, who lived on a farm nearby, which led to her death in the Salem Witch Trials. During the American Revolutionary War, it was the home of Judge Samuel Holten, a Founding Father of the United States who served in the Continental Congress. The house was acquired by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1921 and was restored. It is open to tours by appointment.