Victorian-era home, 47 Washington Street
One of the older established ways in town, Washington Street may have started as a footpath for Native Americans long before John Winthrop and the first settlers arrived. Today’s Washington Street was called originally called Bridge Street, and for two decades was known as Gravel Street for the two gravel pits on the hillside. It took a right turn to High Street at Lords Square on what is now Liberty Street.
At about the same time that Central Street was created in 1870, Gravel Street was extended to Linebrook Road, reconstructed and renamed Washington Street. The section near Lords Square was renamed Liberty Street. A late 19th Century building boom on these two streets and the new Mount Pleasant subdivision added Victorian houses to the old colonial neighborhood.
Map created by Thomas Franklin Waters, showing land grants to early Ipswich settlers. Today’s Washington Street was known as Bridge Street and Gravel Street.
Gravel Street and the gravel pits are shown in the 1832 Philander map of Ipswich
Washington Street after reconstruction
Washington Street before reconstruction
Before Washington Street was reconstructed in 2011, it had become an eyesore with huge swaths of cracked pavement and a buckling sidewalks (when there was one at all.) The redesigned road is a tremendous improvement in aesthetics and safety. Visitors see a well-preserved neighborhood that compliments the historic character of our town, and the community has a safer way to walk to stores, schools and Bialek Park.Color photos below are from the Ipswich Patriot Properties site for the Town of Ipswich.
- Late 20th Century black and white photos are from MACRIS, the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System.
| 21st Century photos | Washington Street | 20th Century photos |
 |
Mary Holmes house, 10 Washington St. Constructed before 1770 on N. Main St., moved 1888. (Corner is visible in right photo) |
 |
 |
Riley, Patrick House, 12 Washington St., 1880 |
 |
 |
Riley, Patrick House, 16 Washington St., 1865 |
 |
 |
Peatfield, Sanford House, 18 Washington St., 1860 |
 |
 |
Bray, E. – Nourse, Daniel P. House, 32 Washington St., 1865 |
 |
 |
Laffy, Michael – Chapman – Morrill House, 31 Washington St., 1880 |
 |
 |
Bell, Charles H. House, 1890 35 Washington St., 1890 |
 |
 |
Grossman, Charles – Doucette, Denis House, 1890 37 Washington St.1890 |
 |
 |
Brown, George B. House, 41 Washington St., 1883 |
 |
 |
Geanakos Grocery Store, 42 Washington St., 1938 |
 |
 |
Hill, Howard S. House 44 Washington St., 1905 |
 |
 |
Peatfield, James – Marble, J. S. House, 46 Washington St. 1860 |
 |
 |
Smith, George W. – Pickard House, 53 Washington St., 1880 |
 |
 |
Goodhue, Ephraim House, 56 Washington St., 1875 |
 |
 |
Bamford, Charles W. House, 59 Washington St., 1856. Read more |
 |
 |
Haskell, D. – Ross, F. G. House, 78 Washington St.,1835 |
 |
| Liberty Street | ||
 |
3 Liberty Street, circa 1900 | |
 |
6 Liberty Street, 1910 | |
 |
7 Liberty Street, circa 1900 | |
 |
9 Liberty Street, circa 1900 | |
 |
10 Liberty Street, circa 1910 | |
 |
Levi Howe house, 11 Liberty Street, 1857 |  |
 |
George Brown house, 12 Liberty St.,1890 |  |
 |
13 Liberty Street, circa 1900 | |
 |
George Brown house, 14 Liberty Street, 1898. Read more |  |
 |
Davis-Russell house,15 Liberty Street, circa 1870 |  |
 |
17 Liberty Street, circa 1880 | |
 |
William Nutt house, 18 Liberty Street, 1885 |
Filed under: Houses, Roads
