Nathaniel Hawthorne's Piano--Salem, MA

In 1668, merchant and ship-owner John Turner built a house on Salem Harbor that was destined to become one of America’s most beloved historic homes. Designated a National Historic Landmark District in 2007, The House of the Seven Gables is best known today as the setting of world-renowned American author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel. 

There is a pianoforte in the parlor, where its rich rosewood and mahogany construction attracts comments and questions from visitors to The House of the Seven Gables.  Its forty ivory keys are fewer than those of a modern piano and, though the sound of the instrument is louder than that of the earlier harpsichords, it is not as loud as a modern piano.  In the 1820’s, Alphaeus Babcock, at the time working in Boston, made this particular pianoforte.


In the parlor of The House of the Seven Gables is a portrait of Susanna Ingersoll, former owner of the house and cousin to Nathaniel Hawthorne.  Contrary to her traditional reputation as a recluse, friends reported that she was lively and social. We know from Hawthorne’s letters that she met with him and others to play whist. She was also very musical. She loved to sing and play the pianoforte and to entertain friends and guests.  According to contemporary newspaper accounts, Susanna gave a “Garden Party” for naval heroes of the War of 1812.  --From the "House of the Seven Gables" website.

My piano student Dale sent me the picture below from Salem yesterday.  She is visiting family in New England, and was thrilled to see the piano from The House of the Seven Gables.  

Beautiful rosewood and mahogany case on this pianoforte