Beal-Gardner House-1831
The Beal-Gardner House was built in 1831 as a 2-family home for Giles Gardner and Capt. George Beal at the time when Ship Street was still known as Fish Street. Little is known about Giles, who died in 1834. The genealogy of Hingham lists his father as a farmer, but given that he chose to live on Fish Street, it may be that Giles was engaged in a marine trade. Capt. Beal was a pilot for the Boston Hingham Steamboat Company for over 50 years, and was one of the most trusted of the company’s navigators. From the 1860s through the 1890s, Hingham’s Fish Inspector, Abner Humphrey, occupied the house.
The Beal-Gardner House is a classic example of the sturdy Cape Cod style that first appeared in the 1600s. By the 1830s the Cape Cod style house was decidedly old fashioned, but had become a standard for working class families. Two family versions of the “Cape” helped owners economize on building materials and heat. Typical of such houses, the two halves of the house mirrored each other, with fireplaces on the outer walls to direct heat inward. The Doric pilasters and pronounced upper molding at the (originally) double front entry were a nod to the then-fashionable Greek Revival style in architecture. The dormers were added during the mid-19th century. The Beal-Gardner house remained 2-family dwelling until about 1916. At that time, the home was converted to a single-family dwelling and the double front entry was replaced with a single door and sidelights
The Beal-Gardner House is a classic example of the sturdy Cape Cod style that first appeared in the 1600s. By the 1830s the Cape Cod style house was decidedly old fashioned, but had become a standard for working class families. Two family versions of the “Cape” helped owners economize on building materials and heat. Typical of such houses, the two halves of the house mirrored each other, with fireplaces on the outer walls to direct heat inward. The Doric pilasters and pronounced upper molding at the (originally) double front entry were a nod to the then-fashionable Greek Revival style in architecture. The dormers were added during the mid-19th century. The Beal-Gardner house remained 2-family dwelling until about 1916. At that time, the home was converted to a single-family dwelling and the double front entry was replaced with a single door and sidelights
