20-22 MIDDLE STREET, GLOUCESTER, ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
The Captain John Somes House stands on the historic west end of Middle Street in Gloucester, Massachusetts, occupying a prominent position near the Town House, early churches, the harbor, the stagecoach terminal, and the tavern. This location placed the dwelling at the center of civic, commercial, and maritime life during the late eighteenth century. Captain John Somes, a privateer captain and president of Gloucester’s first bank, reflects the close relationship between seafaring enterprise, finance, and local leadership that shaped the town’s early development.
As seen in the exterior view, the house presents a formal Georgian composition characterized by a balanced facade, evenly spaced sash windows, and a centered entrance emphasized by a classical door surround. The clapboard exterior and restrained detailing convey permanence rather than ornament, aligning with the public stature of its owner. The gable roof and prominent chimney further reinforce the building’s orderly massing and disciplined proportions.
The exterior design communicates its role as both a domestic residence and a visible marker of status within Gloucester. The Captain John Somes House remains an instructive example of how architecture, location, and social standing intersected in New England’s coastal communities during the late colonial period.
