Just beyond the church on School Street (left side) is the Garrison House, where William Lloyd Garrison was born in 1805. Garrison devoted most of his lifetime to the abolition of slavery in this country. His newspaper, "The Free Press", which was published in Newburyport for a time, triggered the abolitionist movement. Garrison also founded the Anti-Slavery Society, and was an ardent supporter of the underground railroad.

Walk down Federal Street to the next corner. As you approach the brick Federal period building on the corner of Middle Street, note the beautiful fanlight over the door in what is now the back of the building. The brickwork, with alternating brick ends and sides, is called Flemish bond.

Cross Middle Street and look down the right side of Federal Street at the two large Georgian brick houses. The first one, the William Bartlett House, is the later of the two, built in 1798. Note the massive hip roof and projecting brick belt course between floors. William Bartlett established the textile industry in Newburyport, manufacturing woolen yarn and cotton batting at the Bartlett Mills in the 1830's. The second one, No. 13 Federal Street, has dormer windows with peaked pediments, a typical Georgian motif.

Walk along the right side of Middle Street. No. 82 Middle Street, on the far side, is a Federal house with dentilled cornice and indented moldings over the windows.

No. 76 Middle Street is Greek Revival, with the gable end typically facing the street. Note the window moldings, with the small squares in the corners, always a Greek Revival motif.

The next house, No. 74 Middle Street, is Pre-Revolutionary, perhaps as early as 1720. Note the heavy proportions, lack of ornamentation, and how the house sits right down on the street. At one time, it probably had a single, massive center chimney. The oddly-spaced windows are often seen in early houses, and indicate that one half of the house was built later than the other. In this case, the left half is the earlier part. The right half and the shed were added later.