John A. Johnson was a shoemaker who built the fine house at 42 North Main Street in Ipswich in 1871. Features include Italianate surrounds and bracketed cornices. The 10-room house has 4 bedrooms and 2 formal living rooms with ceiling medallions, a butler’s pantry, 2 kitchens, and 4 artisan-crafted marble fireplaces. The Johnson shoe store was down the hill on Market Street at the location of today’s Zumi’s. (See 1884 map)
Margaret Kendall sold John A. Johnson this lot on Oct. 15, 1870. The land was formerly owned by the Fitts family, and their old residence was moved by James Tyler that same year to 43 High Street. Johnson built this elaborate Italianate mansion, which remains one of the finest examples of that style in Ipswich. The gabled carriage house, complete with cupola and characteristic Italianate details, still remains.
Historic Ipswich 
