To the editor:
Salem Common was developed within a few short years according to the Rev. William Bentley, who compared its appearance in 1809 with the way it had looked in 1783 when he first arrived in the community.
Winter Street, which connected the Common with Ferry Lane, was laid out on or before 1668. Its current name seems to have appeared for the first time in a list of streets dated 1773, when it went from Cole's Corner to the North River.
Brown Street also has an ancient history. In his two-volume work on the Salem witchcraft hysteria, Charles Upham described the street as "a dark, unfrequented lane," leaving the reader with the distinct impression that this would not have been the wisest course to take at night after leaving Beadle's Tavern.
Brown Street was named for Maj. William Browne (1639-1715/6), merchant, or one of his descendants.
According to the 1700 map of Salem, a portion of Mr. Browne's property abutted the lane that later became Brown Street. At that time, however, the ancient path was called "Highway to ye Training Common" and was not to assume its current name until around 1800, after four generations of Brownes had owned the property.
Williams Street was opened by Henry Williams, mariner, through his land in 1796 when the street, like Winter Street, went all the way to the North River.
Pickman Street was named for Col. Benjamin Pickman who owned a field in the location of where Pickman Street was later laid out. The Pickmans were one of Salem's prominent merchant families.
Where Oliver Street now stands was formerly a brass foundry shop where in 1803 James Austin advertised andirons, shovels, and tongs for sale, as well as "All kinds of Composition Ship Work, at the Bottom prices."
According to the historian Sidney Perley, Oliver Street was "laid out and so called in 1808." The street was named in honor of Henry Kemble Oliver, a statesman who at one time was mayor of Salem.
The Common in the late 18th century presented a picture very different from the one of today before several of the surrounding streets existed and the neighborhood was characterized by fields, smaller houses, tanning yards, ropewalks, and shops.
Jeanne Stella
Salem
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