The Plains
Called "Porter's Plain" after 17th century settler
John Porter, this level expanse of about one square
mile was sparsely inhabited into the mid-18th century.By the time of the American Revolution, patriot
Captain Jeremiah Page had settled here, establishing
a prosperous brick-making business. An important
crossroads developed at what is now Elm and High
Streets, where the 1643 Ipswich road bisected the
1760's "New Road" to Salem. A popular tavern catered
to the many travelers passing through the area.
During the 1830s this area grew rapidly with the
establishment of eight shoe factories by Samuel
Preston, Elias Putname, Joshua Silvester and others,
along with two general stores, banks, new homes and
churches. A major fire in 1845 resulted in the widening
of Maple street in Danvers square, and in 1855
a combined town house and high school was built
nearby. converging stage, and later trolly lines,
and the intersection of two railroads during the
19th century firmly established the commercial
prominence of "Danvers Plains" for generations to come.
Marker is on Maple Street near Central Ave, on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
