The McIntire Historic District is one of four local historic districts in Salem, along with the Derby Street, Lafayette Street and Washington Square districts. Within it, Chestnut Street is known for its Federal-era houses. The city also lists the Chestnut Street Neighborhood Associates, the Federal Street Neighborhood Association and the Historic Essex Street Neighborhood Association.
Many of the homes here are among the oldest in Salem, and that is the reason for this page.
Verified local facts.
What the records say.
- The Chestnut Street District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 28, 1973, and enlarged by about 2.5 acres on October 4, 1978. It is roughly bounded by Bridge, Lynn, Beckford and River Streets.
- Its houses show Colonial, Federal and mid-19th century revival styles, with many brick Federal houses from the early 1800s and works by the builder Samuel McIntire.
- The National Register district is part of the larger McIntire Historic District.
- Historic Salem says that in Salem's local historic districts, exterior changes visible from a public way are reviewed by the Salem Historical Commission.
- Historic Salem also says the local districts, established in the 1980s, protect about 600 of Salem's 4,000 historic buildings.
Our angle.
Plumbing in a house that is two hundred years old.
Age alone does not tell us what is inside a wall, and we do not assume any particular pipe. What age does tell us is that the house has probably been changed many times, and that work on it often means more care than a newer house.
Brick and plaster walls, narrow chases and original floors can make routing pipe harder. A good plumber plans where lines will run, protects finishes and sometimes opens a small access hole instead of a large one.
Access and finishes.
Plaster, wood trim and old floors are worth protecting. Ask any plumber how they will route new lines and where they will open walls.
More than one era of pipe.
Houses this old usually have a mix of pipe from different periods. A camera look at the drain and a pressure check on supply lines show what you have. See sewer camera inspection.
Bathrooms and kitchens added later.
Most historic houses had bathrooms added decades after they were built. Those add-ons are often where problems start. See faucet repair and toilet repair.
Water heaters in tight spaces.
A modern heater or a tankless unit has venting and clearance needs. Planning them in an old house takes forethought. See tankless water heaters and water heater replacement.
Plumbing question in a historic home?.
Call and describe what you see. We will tell you what to check and what to ask the city first.
Rules to check.
Exterior work: ask before you start.
Because the exterior of a house in a local historic district is reviewed, plumbing work that changes what is visible from the street needs a question first. Examples include a new vent through a roof or wall, a relocated meter or utility box, or an exterior fitting. We cannot say what the Historical Commission will approve, and we do not guess.
Ask the Salem Historical Commission before you plan exterior work. For plumbing permits, Inspectional Services at 978-619-5641 can tell you what applies. A plumber can help you describe the work so you ask the right question.
Services.
Common calls.
In older houses, the most common calls are slow drains, leaks and water heaters. See drain cleaning, leak detection and water heater repair. If a whole house needs new supply lines, repiping explains the process, the disruption and the choices.
Process.
What a plumbing visit to an older house involves.
A visit starts with a call, where you describe the problem and the plumber asks about the house. On site, the plumber looks at the fixture, the shutoff and the access, and explains what they see before any repair. You should hear the price and what could change it before work starts. If a repair means opening a wall, ask for a plan to schedule it and to protect the room. After the repair, ask what was done and what to watch for.
The cost of work in an older house depends on access, the number of fixtures, the pipe material and any parts that are hard to find. A clear price in advance avoids surprises. If you are comparing quotes, ask each plumber to describe the same repair so you can compare like with like.
Shut off the water.
Know where the main shutoff is and that it turns. If a pipe is leaking, shut off the water and call.
Do not use chemicals.
Avoid chemical drain cleaners in old drains, since they can damage pipe and are unsafe for the plumber.
Document the problem.
Take photos of leaks and stains. They help the plumber and any insurance claim.
Call before you repair.
Call a plumber before you try to cut or replace old pipe, since a bad cut can make a repair harder.
Practical checklist.
Questions to ask before hiring for an old house.
- How will you route new pipe, and where will you need to open walls or floors?
- How will you protect plaster, trim and floors, and who repairs what you open?
- Will any work change the exterior, such as a vent, a meter or a fitting?
- What permits apply, and who pulls them?
- What is the price before work starts, and what could change it?
- Will you tell me what you find and what you recommend, in plain language?
Bring the same questions to any plumber you speak with. A clear answer on each is a sign the work will be planned carefully.
Getting oriented.
Streets we use as landmarks.
Chestnut, Essex, Federal, Broad and Lynn Streets are the roads we use to place a call in this area. Give us the street and the nearest cross street, and tell us if the house has a courtyard or side entrance.
Standards.
Code and permits.
Plumbing work in Massachusetts follows 248 CMR 10.00, the state plumbing code, and the standard applies in historic houses just as it does anywhere else. Ask Salem Inspectional Services at 978-619-5641 what permits apply, and ask the Salem Historical Commission about anything visible from the street. A good plumber will plan the work so both reviews are straightforward.
Limits of the research.
What we could not confirm.
We would rather say what we do not know than guess. We could not confirm the pipe materials, the age of any house's drains, or the number of buildings in the McIntire District. The sources describe styles, dates and review rules, not plumbing. We also could not confirm exactly which blocks fall inside the local district, so check the city's map before planning exterior work. Search demand for this neighborhood name is unknown.
Map of McIntire District and Chestnut Street, Salem, MA.
Chestnut Street and the McIntire District.
Chestnut Street runs through the heart of the McIntire District near Essex, Federal and Broad Streets, a short walk from downtown Salem.
FAQs.
Plumbing questions in the McIntire District.
Yes. We serve Salem, including the historic districts near downtown, and the same phone line covers every street.
If the change is visible from a public way, ask the Salem Historical Commission before you start. For plumbing permits, ask Inspectional Services at 978-619-5641. We cannot say what will be approved.
Often a plumber can reduce damage by planning routes and opening small access points. Ask how they will protect finishes and where they will open walls before you agree to work.
Basement bathrooms added later often sit low, so they depend on a pump or a drain that is only slightly below the main line. A camera look and a check of the pump or lift system can show what is going on.