Stearns House

The Stearns House (aka East India House) is located at 384 Essex Street and was erected in 1776. Built during the Revolution, these houses represent a transitional stage of architecture, rather than a distinct type of square house. They were forerunners of the hip roof. The exterior of the Stearns house is notable chiefly for the handsome Doric porch added by McIntire in 1785. This was the residence of Major, afterward, Colonel Joseph Sprague, who was related by marriage to the Stearns family.

Colonel Sprague, then a major, participated in the first armed resistance to the British at the incident known as Leslie's retreat on Sunday Feb. 26, 1775.

See Also

• Colonial Architecture of Salem by F. Cousins, p. 58(photo), 62-63, 108, p. 117-118