Historic William Haskell House in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Listed for $1.25 Million

A rare piece of early American history has hit the real estate market. The William Haskell House, one of the oldest surviving homes in the United States, is up for sale in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with an asking price of $1.25 million, offering buyers the chance to own a nearly 350-year-old colonial-era property. Built in 1678, the home is considered a remarkable example of "First Period" architecture, the earliest style of English colonial homes in America. According to a report by the New York Post, the historic property has remained largely intact for more than three centuries while being carefully upgraded with modern amenities.

For those unfamiliar with the term, "First Period" refers to the earliest era of English colonial architecture in America, roughly spanning from the 1620s to the early 1700s. Listing agent Michael Selbst of Gibson Sotheby's International Realty said the home "is still standing as it were when it was built nearly 350 years ago," making it one of the country's rare surviving examples of 17th-century residential architecture.

The history behind the house

The property takes its name from its original owner, William Haskell, who harvested salt hay from the tidal marshes surrounding the property more than 300 years ago. Salt haying was a common colonial-era practice in coastal Massachusetts, where farmers cut grasses from tidal marshlands to feed livestock, a detail that ties the home directly to the working landscape of early New England. Over the centuries, the estate expanded beyond its original 17th-century core. A 1920s-era "ell" , an architectural term for a wing built at a right angle to the main structure , was added, along with an antique barn that now includes an entertaining space and a covered porch overlooking the marshes.

History on the outside, modern comfort within

One common misconception about centuries-old homes is that owning one means sacrificing modern comforts. The Haskell House sidesteps that trade-off. While the exterior and many interior details remain historically faithful, the home's essential systems , electrical wiring, plumbing, and even geothermal heating , have all been brought up to modern standards. "It has been fully stabilized with new electric and plumbing and new HVAC, so it's essentially a current home wrapped in an original envelope," Selbst told the New York Post.

The lavish building's historic character has been carefully preserved across its nearly 3,000 square feet, retaining many signature features of First Period architecture. These include wide-plank wooden floors, exposed timber ceiling beams, wood-panelled walls, and five original fireplaces, offering a glimpse into 17th-century colonial craftsmanship while blending seamlessly with modern upgrades. Even modern additions, such as the kitchen cabinetry, were designed with a rustic finish so they blend with the historic character rather than disrupt it. The four-bedroom property has functioned primarily as a summer home and seasonal rental for its current owners. But according to the listing agent, it has broad appeal. He said he could see it working well for empty nesters seeking a first-floor primary suite with guest space upstairs, as well as young families drawn to the quiet, secure neighborhood.