our story
history
The Essex Street Inn stands on a historic site in Newburyport, originally occupied by the Lucky Livery Stable in the early 19th century. In 1811, the Great Fire—one of two devastating blazes that razed much of the city, the second in 1934—destroyed 16 acres of downtown, including the stable. Rebuilt on the same footprint, the barn-like structure housed horses, carriages, and sleighs for rent.
In 1836, an innkeeper and two stable hands purchased the property for $950, transforming it into a guesthouse and transportation hub, primarily serving weddings and funerals via private coach or stage line. The stable doubled as a stagecoach terminal, with large water cisterns—still partially visible in the inn’s basement—supporting its operations.
In 1879, Dr. Henry C. Perkins’ estate acquired the property, and by 1880, the stable was demolished to make way for the current Essex Street Inn. The new three-story duplex, built in a restrained Victorian eclectic style, housed two residences: Number 5 Essex Street, rented to a sailmaker, and Number 7, home to the Joseph Titcomb Chase family. Over time, Number 5 operated as a lodging house, while Number 7 remained a private residence until the duplex was converted into a single, expansive inn.
Flanking the main building, Numbers 3 and 9 Essex Street also served as rooming houses. Number 3 offered 15 rooms and three adjoining townhouse suites, while Number 9, once the Captain James Kettle house, functioned as a lodging house throughout much of the 19th century.
The three properties changed hands frequently until 2002, when the Guertin family purchased Number 7 from the Pearson family, later acquiring Numbers 3 and 9 to expand the inn. Today, the award-winning Essex Street Inn comprises three Victorian-era buildings, offering 37 rooms and suites. The Guertins’ success led to the creation of New England Hospitality, a company that now operates several distinguished lodging properties across Maine, New Hampshire, and Newburyport.
