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According to Aaron Henry, Director of Land Use and Community Services,  a full structural investigation of 199 Hobart Street (Ingersoll Tavern) led the court-appointed receiver (James Cotter) to conclude that he cannot move forward with the restoration project, as the property’s post-rehabilitation value would be less than the cost required to complete the necessary repairs. Mr. Henry also noted that another party, who is aware of the estimated costs, may be interested in taking on the restoration and repairs. The letter the Town received from the receiver on April 24, 2026, James Cotter, can be read here.

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How We Got Here

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In April 2025, after years of neglect to one of the most significant remaining sites tied to the Salem Witch Trials, a housing court judge appointed a receiver, attorney James Cotter, to stabilize and restore Ingersoll’s Tavern on Hobart Street in Danvers.

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The tavern at 199 Hobart St., built in the 1670s, played a central role in the events of 1692, including early witchcraft accusations and examinations that helped fuel the hysteria leading to 25 deaths. It is also where the first three persons arrested for the crime of witchcraft (Tituba, Sarah Osbourne and Sarah Good) would be brought, examined and held as prisoners before proceedings were moved due to large crowds.  

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The building remained in use through the Revolutionary War and later became a private residence. It has sat vacant and deteriorating since 2011, after being purchased by Grenville Thoron. On April 29, 2025, Judge Gustavo Del Puerto formally appointed Cotter as receiver after Thoron failed to appear at a scheduled hearing.

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Cotter was tasked with bringing the property up to code after more than a decade of vacancy, as the court cited serious structural issues and safety concerns that made the building unfit for habitation. The judge later ordered that once restored, the property would be sold to a new owner, while its historic exterior remains protected due to its National Register status.

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Danvers adopted a “Demolition by Neglect” bylaw in 2024 to help protect historically significant structures from falling into irreversible disrepair, though receivership was ultimately used here as the most direct way to prevent further loss.

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Despite prior statements about converting the property into a museum or restoring it, little substantial work was completed over the years. The home deteriorated significantly, including exterior damage, a collapsed barn, roof failure covered by a tarp, and a Fire Department “X” marking due to unsafe conditions.

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According to Danvers Director of Land Use and Community Services Aaron Henry, a walkthrough with Cotter revealed a mix of conditions—some less severe than expected, but others worse, including the removal of original historic materials such as mantels and flooring that had likely occurred over time.