The earliest section of this colonial home was built in West Peabody in approximately 1670 by Isaac and Patience Cook Goodale. In 1676, Giles Corey, age 65 was tried for beating to death one of his indentured farm workers, Jacob Goodale, brother to Isaac Goodale. Corey was charged with using unreasonable force, found guilty, and fined. This story surfaced again as evidence during the Salem witch trials, where Corey was found guilty of witchcraft and was pressed with stones for two days until he died.
In 1928, the house was reconstructed at 153 Argilla Road near Russell Orchards in Ipswich by Robert Lincoln and Susan Goodale. First-period elements include 5 fireplaces and a large central chimney, diamond leaded pane casement windows, hand-carved raised paneling, a steeply pitched roof, bare clapboards and trim, board and batten doors, and chamfered summer beams.
Most first-story summer beams run in a longitudinal direction, but in this house, we find transverse summer beams on the first floor, functioning as binding beams. The first-story transverse summer is almost exclusively an Essex County phenomenon. The house is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.
Historical Narrative
By the Ipswich Historical Commission, from the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS)
According to tradition, Robert Goodale moved from Salem to what is now Peabody in 1669 and built the house for his son Isaac shortly thereafter. Stylistic features suggest a construction date closer to 1700, however. The owner of the house in the early 18th century, Samuel Goodale, is listed in Salem records as a carpenter.
The house remained in the hands of the Goodale family until November 1915, 246 years later, when it was conveyed to Charles R. Stackpole of Nahant by Jacob Oscar Goodale. In December 1915 it passed to Walter H. Southwick of Nahant, and then, in April 1918, onto Lyman G. Smith of Cambridge. After Mr. Smith’s death, it was conveyed in September of 1921 to Josephine Turck, a widow.
In January 1929, Robert Lincoln Goodale, a practicing physician and collateral descendant of the original owners, bought the house for sentimental reasons and for its preservation. The house was disassembled and moved to its present location in Ipswich in the summer of 1929. Restoration of the house to its First Period appearance was undertaken by carpenter Eugene Dow. Dr. and Mrs. Robert Goodale were representatives of several owners on the north shore who purchased and restored First-Period buildings for summer homes or permanent residences. The restoration was, by early 20th-century standards, a careful one and a significant example of the early 20th-century restoration movement. No materials were brought in from other old buildings, and where historical material was missing, replacement materials replicated those already existing in the house.
In 1990, the owners established a preservation restriction agreement, also known as a “covenant” for this house with the Ipswich Historical Commission, protecting the house from demolition by present and future owners, and protecting the following elements: front and rear facades, stone steps, windows, frame, roof, fireplaces, doors, sheathing, cornices, staircases, and girts. The land surrounding the house is also protected by a conservation agreement with the Essex County Greenbelt Association. View more details at the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS)
Maisie Crowther provided the following 4 photos. The first two were taken in Danvers/W. Peabody 1928-9. The next two show the reconstruction in Ipswich, 1929-30.
Isaac Goodale House,153 Argilla Road Preservation Agreement
- Argilla-153-goodale-preservation-agreement-page1
- Argilla-153-goodale-preservation-agreement-page2
- Argilla-153-goodale-preservation-agreement-page3
- Argilla-153-goodale-preservation-agreement-page4
Recent photos
Historic Ipswich 
Issac & Patience are my 9x Great Grandparents. Very cool to find this post.
Hello Goodale relatives.
I’ve just seen this article and wish to thank you for commenting and giving some genealogical data. Also, I thank Gordon Harris who has answered the questions about visitors.
Susan and Robert L. Goodale are my parents. I’m the youngest and sole remaining sibling of 4 children. When I moved out of Ipswich in 2020, another family had purchased the land and was eager to restore the gardens my parents had planted.
My father was keen on getting to know new cousins and usually welcomed them when he was able.
Ipswich used to hold 17 th Century Days when the house was open to visitors. Because of the location and surroundings, it is very reasonable for a family to require privacy.
I would be interested to fill some gaps in the Zachariah descendant line. I may be able to help.
The Russell Orchards was started in 1920 by my grandfather Dr. Joseph L. Goodale. He and his son Geoffrey managed it with the MacLeod family until 1979.
Maisie Goodale Crowther
Aloha from a Hawaii Goodale. We live part of the year in Ogunquit.
We have a farm in NH- not very active…. Would love to come and meet Goodale family/ cousins if that is possible. You may get alot of requests….
I am from Peabody, Ma. The story of of the house is fantastic!
Goodale was a very important family in Hawaii- The NewEngland missionaries sailed to Hawaii and impacted the islands tremendously…. Would love to share that with you…
Thank you
Aloha!
Yes! Lucy Goodale who married Asa Thurston lived in Hawaii. My sister and I visited the church there in 1998. It is quite a remarkable story. More…
Maisie
Another descendant here. We’re traveling from MD to Maine this spring; wondering if it’s worthwhile to stop in Ipswich–would like to see the house from the outside if it’s possible to do so without bothering the owners. It’s hard to tell on the map.
The owners have a No Trespassing sign at the beinning of the driveway.
Thanks for that info!
I have traced my line to Robert Goodale, and through his son Zachariah. Thank you for posting this. I too would love to see the home.
id love to be able to figure out if i am related in anyway! Any info on how id go about doing this?
My Grandson Issac Goodale
Age 16 showed me this house.
Very interesting
I too am one of the approximately 7.5 million descendants of Isaac Goodale and his son Zachariah across the nation. It would be nice if this home was opened for tours by the interested public a few times per year.
I too am a direct descendent as Jacob Oscar Goodale was my great grandfather. My grandfather was Perley Goodale who lived in West Peabody with my grandmother Edith Stevens Goodale. Their children were Perley Goodale, Marian Goodale (my mother), and Edna Goodale were born and brought up on and around the Goodale farm in West Peabody. History of the Goodales goes back to 1632+/-.
Yes, I remember that my mother met an Edna Goodale when they were living in a retirement home in Bedford, Ma. I have a newspaper article about Perley and friend who were explorers.
Maisie Goodale Crowther
I too am a descendant and tried to visit the house in June 2019. The owners of Russell Orchards talked with the then new owners and it seemed possible. However, when I drove up, the owner came out and asked me to leave the property and would not allow even exterior photos. Very disappointing. Perhaps it was too soon after moving in – maybe they have softened. I did visit by phone with Maisie Crowther and many of the old photos on this site, she also sent me by email.
Yes, I remember that my mother met an Edna Goodale when they were living in a retirement home in Bedford, Ma. I have a newspaper article about Perley and friend who were explorers.
Maisie Goodale Crowther
It’s set back behind Russell Orchards (formerly Goodale). You would have to contact the owners to visit the property.
Another decendant here love this article
You would have to ask the owners. http://ipswich.patriotproperties.com/default.asp
Hi,
I am an architect and descendent of Robert Goodale. I live in Lexington and would love to see the house. Is this possible?
Thanks!
Hi Ned. I am a descendant of Zachariah Goodale, younger brother of Isaac. I am wondering what you found out about seeing the home. I live is Seattle but hope to do a family genealogy tour in the next couple of years and would also love to see this home.