Through combinations of luck and foresight, the Balch House has survived while the hundreds of homes from the same era have fallen to progress or decay.

The John Cabot House is a Georgian style mansion built in 1781 during the Revolutionary War, and it was the first brick mansion built in Beverly.

John Hale was born in Charlestown, MA in 1636 and came to Beverly to preach when it was still known as the “Bass River Side” of Salem.

After the tumultuous years of the second half of the 17th century, filled as they were with political upheaval, Indian wars, and culminating in the witchcraft crises of 1692, the new century must have seemed to local residents like entering a calm port.

The tumultuous 40 years between 1775 and 1815 included years of war, epidemics, sacrifice and suffering. But they also saw the excitement of the birth of the new nation, with new opportunities both in politics and business.

The rich history of the Ryal Side neighborhood dates back to 1753 when the area finally broke from Salem. The landscape encompasses Salters and Fosters Point along with Ober Park. The Ryal Side Pride exhibition will take you into the traditions and community-network of the neighborhood while exploring the past of this dynamic, community minded area of the city.