While sorting through old books today I opened a book entitled , “Newburyport’s Rufus Sargent, An Architect Rediscovered” by Betsy H. Woodman, and saw it was signed and inscribed to the previous owners and included, “thanks for the loan of the photo!”

hmmm what photo.

Flipping through, I found an amazing photo from just after the fire in 1894 !! In addition, she describes the history of the original build and some of the rebuild. What a find!!!

So my Dad was right, the roof is definitely turn-of-the-century construction, since we can see here that originally there was no 3rd floor.  He could tell by the rough hewn beams and sawdust insulation in the attic