Richard Derby had formerly occupied a gambrel-roofed wooden house which, erected in 1738, still stands at the corner of Herbert and Derby Streets. The brick house we may imagine represented a great advance in building. There had been one attempt, as early as 1700, at a brick house, but the owner’s wife considered it unsanitary, and prevailed upon him to demolish it. An interesting feature of the Derby house is the location of the four chimneys in pairs at either end. This was no doubt an improvement over the old style of a huge central stack, with fireplaces opening into it from all sides. The entrance is most attractive, though unpretentious. One notices the fluted pilasters with Doric capitals, the severe square-paned top-light, the elaborate paneling of the door, and the very unusual effect of the rusticated jambs. THE HODGES-PEELE-WEST HOUSE Beautifully shaded by huge elms, the Hodges-Peele-West house at 12 Chestnut Street affords a typical illustration of the square brick house of the early years of the nineteenth century. This was erected in 1804 for Captain Jonathan Hodges, and was remodeled in 1845 by its then owner, Willard Peele. The warm red-brick, so effective as a background for the pure white of the Colonial porch, has here been hidden by a coat of gray paint. A light and artistic iron fence encloses the yard, stables of a design harmonious with the house itself are located at the rear, and a most attractive and handsome porch invites entrance. THE SILSBEE-MOTT HOUSE [Illustration: THE SILSBEE-MOTT HOUSE] Although fallen out of favor at the beginning, as unsanitary and damp, brick houses in Salem finally triumphantly came into their own, and the opening of the nineteenth century found them the prevailing type. It was some time before so-called double houses, or ‘semi-detached’ houses, began to be erected; but a first attempt had already been made in 1814 and soon after we find a number of examples. Notable among these is the Silsbee-Mott house, built for two families, at the corner of Oliver Street and Washington Square. Instead of a double house, however, we seem to have two single houses of similar design joined together. Our plate shows the handsome porch and entrance of the Mott side of the house. THE HODGES-WEBB-MEEK HOUSE [Illustration: THE HODGES-WEBB-MEEK HOUSE]