Early New England Barn (c. 1740)

CAM Green
13 Poplar Street
Gloucester, MA 01930

Hours
During the CAM Green’s open hours, visitors are welcome to walk around the grounds of the barn; however, the inside of the barn is closed to visitors.

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Overview Accessibility

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Overview

Located between the White-Ellery House and the Babson-Alling House, the third historic structure owned by the Cape Ann Museum is a 3-bay barn. Like the Babson-Alling House, the structure sits on its original foundation. Its frame is made of wood that was readily available in the area during Colonial times: hemlock, oak and eastern white pine. The frame was joined using techniques brought over from England by early settlers.

Over the decades the barn has served many purposes including the storage of firewood and hay. Ownership of the structure ran with the Babson-Alling property from c. 1740 through the mid-20th century. Given the amount of development and change that has taken place in the neighborhood surrounding it, the barn is a remarkable survivor.

Stabilization of the barn was undertaken in 2018 with the support of the City of Gloucester’s Community Preservation Act grant program.

During the CAM Green’s open hours, visitors are welcome to walk around the grounds of the barn; however, the inside of the barn is closed to visitors.

Image Credits:
Early New England Barn, CAM staff photo.
Back of Early New England Barn, CAM staff photo.

Accessibility

The Early New England Barn (c. 1740) is situated on the CAM Green, near the Janet & William Ellery James Center. In addition to providing the Museum with space for future growth of the collection and space for expanded programming and exhibitions, the James Center provides essential support to all the historic structures at the Green in the form of fully accessible restrooms, vehicular parking, and a visitor orientation space which includes internet services and A/V capabilities. Though the James Center and the historic structures at the Green are linked by ADA approved gravel walkways, the historic buildings retain their original structures and are accessed via stepped entrances with narrow doorways, uneven floor surfaces and low light levels inside.