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Home of the Week: A schoolhouse from 1780 is now a $700K condo in Beverly
It has served as an elementary school and the city’s first high school. In the 1970s, it was relocated to its current address.
$699,900
Style Condo
Year built circa 1778
Square feet 1,700
Bedrooms 2
Baths 2 full
Sewer/Water Public
Fee $250 month
Taxes $7,001 (2025)
This Beverly home is now located just steps from the North Shore city’s harbor. But it was first built during the American Revolution at a spot 3.5 miles away. And in the 246 years since, it has served as an elementary school and the city’s first high school. It was nearly demolished, but instead was rescued and moved to Front Street, where it is now known as The Schoolhouse.
According to the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the one-story building still has the original hip-roofed design supported by “unusually large timbers … indicative of a town building.”
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A red brick walkway leads from the street to a rough-hewn granite slab and a black front door on the right side of the clapboard home.
Stepping inside, original exposed beams tower over the open floor plan space, a modern design choice in keeping with its history as a one-room schoolhouse. The flooring is wide-planked pine.
This level has the living and dining areas, the kitchen, and a pair of French doors that open to a private deck overlooking Water Street and the harbor.
– Rob Moreno Photography
The kitchen is sliced off by a granite-topped counter with Nantucket beadboard below that also hosts the sink. In the kitchen space, the stainless steel appliances, including a gas stove, are nestled amid white cabinets. The backsplash is white subway tile. A double-hung window provides natural light.
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On the other side of the counter is a dining area now occupied by a round table with four chairs. It’s perched just underneath a picture window with white framing and white muntins, generating a cottage feel.
The remainder is given over to the living area, where a key feature is the functioning wood-burning fireplace framed by earth-toned slate tiles and red brick firebox.
To the left of the fireplace are the French doors, adding natural light to that provided by a total of three double-hung windows. Harbor views are prevalent.
A full bath with a single white vanity, wood-planked flooring, and a shower/bath combination behind a curtain is just a few steps away from the kitchen.
The lower level hosts the private spaces — two bedrooms and the final full bath. Flooring on this level is concrete with radiant heat.
The larger bedroom has two double-hung windows paired to each other and double closets behind white doors. The second bedroom, which is currently equipped with twin beds, also has a pair of double-hung windows.
Nearby is the second full bathroom. It has a long wood vanity with a single porcelain sink and tile flooring underneath a large frameless mirror. The shower is step-in style with a tile floor and backsplash. There are multiple shower heads.
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The Schoolhouse is one of three units, but is free-standing. The other two units are in the other building, dubbed The Tavern.
The unit has two tandem parking spaces. Gas heating was updated about 10 years ago.
Abby Guittarr-Beaulieu of J Barrett Realty has the listing. As of press time, there was a contingency offer on the home.
John R. Ellement can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @JREbosglobe. Send listings to: [email protected]. Please note: We may not respond to submissions we won’t pursue. Subscribe to our newsletter at Boston.com/address-newsletter.
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