Captain Nathaniel Brown (1800-1866), a master mariner in Salem, built this fine brick house on Brown Street in 1851. Captain Brown bought the lot from the heirs of Nathaniel Kinsman in 1850, with an older house already occupying the site. The existing house was razed and construction began on this house, with it completed by 1851. The building is unique as it resembles the Federal period form of the five-bay and three-story residence with shortened third-floor windows under a low hipped roof. Although the Federal period waned in popularity by the 1830s, this house clearly took cues from the earlier homes nearby. Following Nathaniel Brown’s death in 1866, James Herrick Battis, a tobacconist and cigar manufacturer, purchased the home. City records state that Battis was issued a building permit in 1878 for an addition to the dwelling. It is probable that the bay windows and front door hood were also added at this time, giving the residence more of an Italianate style. Battis continued to own the property until his death in 1891. By 1930, the residence was converted into apartments and was known as the Conant Apartments. It remains a six-unit apartment building today.
Buildings of New England 
Kind of a shame…. not an exceptional structure, and yet, alas, lad….. turned into apts. And too, so many older homes in growing “towns”, and small cities, get turned into “apartments”, and condos. Here’s one.
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I have to disagree with you. Many cities in New England are facing a housing shortage and many are advocating for demolition of neighborhoods for massive upzoning and apartment blocks. The conversion of large historic homes into apartments or condos helps preserve significant buildings and provides a home to those who otherwise may not be able to live in such a special property otherwise.
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Thank you for your kind response.
I know nothing and can prove it !…. So please forgive my hasty and ill considered (ignorant, shall we say?) post regarding so many older gems having been turned into multiple dwellings of sorts.
I appreciate what you say, that these structures too, when saved even in such a fashion, are still good relics of the past and are a lasting part of American architecture, deserving of the attention, such as you offer.
I greatly appreciate this site and the quick few sentences describing styles of architecture and the features of them often overlooked or rather, totally misunderstood that you present.
A customer in Edgartown whose hse you have mentioned, showed me the mention…… and I have enjoyed the last few years entries and the archive as well.
Thank you for what you do.
Jeff Verner, Edgartown MA.
email:
vfg22@yahoo.com
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No reason to apologize! I like having dialogue about the built environment. Not all projects are one-size-fits-all and there are MANY examples of bad renovations into multi-family as well as successful renovations, the eye is always in the beholder.
Thanks for following along and being interested in the site 🙂
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