The Peabody Essex Museum will sponsor a Tour and Workshop at the Ropes Mansion on Tuesday, August 6, from 9:30 – 11:00 am. Join gardener Robin Pydynkowski to learn how to prune spring flowering plants (shrubbery, roses and vines) and how pruning now prepares for next season. Gain insight into the importance of a garden journal and why photos and annotating can help rectify or prevent common garden errors. Bring photographs of your garden to discuss with the expert. Made possible by the Ropes Botanical Lecture Fund. Please reserve by August 1 at www.pem.org. The Ropes Mansion is located at 318 Essex Street in Salem. The house was built for Samuel Barnard, a merchant. In 1768, Judge Nathaniel Ropes, Jr., purchased the house from Barnard’s nephew. The Ropes family then inhabited the house until 1907, when the house was given to the Trustees of the Ropes Memorial for public benefit.
Although altered through the years and then restored, the house looks much like its original form, with a symmetrical facade of two stories, three small pedimented gables through the roof, roof balustrade, and modillioned cornice. (Compare it to the Crowninshield-Bentley House.) In 1807, however, its interior was extensively renovated. In the mid-1830s five rooms and the central hall were remodeled, and today’s doorway installed (with details inspired by Asher Benjamin’s pattern book.) In 1894 the house was moved away from the street and further modified internally. A large, fine garden was added behind the house in 1912.
