The Derby Street Historic District in Salem, Massachusetts was established in 1974. The district includes all the buildings on both sides of Derby Street, beginning at Herbert Street and extending north to Blockhouse Square. Also included here are Derby Wharf and the entire House of Seven Gables complex off Turner Street.

Derby Street runs parallel to Salem Harbor and retains a strong association with the city's maritime history during the time that Salem, Massachusetts served as one of the leading ports of entry in the United States. A lot of buildings there now, residential and commercial, are directly associated with individuals, families, trades, and services that flourished as a result of the foreign commerce carried on in this location during the years of 1760-1820.

Houses built for prominent merchants like Elias Hasket Derby stand on either side of the 1819 Custom House. On down this street, are the closely-built homes and shops many of which date from the pre-1800 period that reveal the intimate character and feeling of a Federal Era costal community.

House of the Seven Gables
54 Turner Street
Salem, Massachusetts
Telephone: 978-744-0991

House of the Seven Gables is famous as the Turner House (1668) and Hawthrone's birthplace as well as ranking among the nation's principal historic shrines. This site features a guided tour of the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion (The House of Seven Gables), a visit to the Nathaniel Hawthorne House, the Counting House, the Colonial Revival Gardens, and the waterfront.

Hours:

• Open year round
• Daily Monday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and January - April, Sunday, noon - 5:00 p.m., July through October 31, until 7:00 p.m., Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and closed at 2:00 p.m. on Christmas Even and New Year's Eve.
• There is an admission fee

Also here in historic Salem, you will find the Olde Pepper Candy Companie, America's Oldest Candy Company. This candy company dates back to 1806. An English woman by the name of "Spencer" was shipwrecked and landed in Salem, Massachusetts in a sort of destitute condition. Mrs. Spencer knew how to make candy and when her neighbors learned of this, they all got together and purchased a barrel of sugar for her. At the time, no one knew that this single act of kindness would produce the "Salem Gibralter," which is said to be the first candy made and sold commercially in America. The sea captains and their crew also carried this candy around the world.

Mrs. Spencer first sold her candies from wood firkins on the steps of the First Church. The candies became so popular she purchased a horse and wagon (now displayed in the Peabody Essex Museum) to peddle the candy while dressed in the long attire of the day with sunbonnet to shield her eyes. Because of this their logo today is the horse and wagon.

Spencer's son carried on the business until about 1830. He returned to England and sold the company to John William Pepper. Under Mr. Pepper's leadership, the company prospered. They added items to the catalog such as Black Jack (an all natural stick candy made from black strap molasses).

In the 1800's the first Burkinshaw went to work for the Pepper Company as a candy maker. He met his wife there and sometime around the turn of the century the Burkinshaw family purchased the Pepper Company and all their original recipes including the ones originated by Mrs. Spencer.

The Burkinshaw family is now in its fourth generation in this family business. There is now two locations Massachusetts. In the historic district, this candy company is located at:

122 Derby Street
Salem, Massachusetts

Source: Salem, Massachusetts City Guide

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