In 1998, the Sippican Historical Society commissioned an architectural survey of Marion’s historic homes and buildings. The survey was funded one-half by the Sippican Historical Society and one-half by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Because of the limits of funding, not all of the historic buildings were surveyed, but over 100 were catalogued and photographed. The results of the survey are in digital form on the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s website and in four binders in the Sippican Historical Society’s office (and at the Marion Town Clerk’s office). Marion (Old Rochester) is one of the oldest towns in the United States, and the Sippican Historical Society maintains an extensive collection of documentation on its historic buildings. The Sippican Historical Society will preview one building a week so that the residents of Marion can understand more about its unique historical architecture. This installment features 266 Converse Road.
The late Georgian-style house at 266 Converse Road was built c. 1800 by the prominent salt industry pioneer, George Bonum Nye, who was a member of Marion’s industrious Nye family. The story of the Nye family in Massachusetts began in 1637 when Benjamin Nye emigrated from England. Marion’s Nyes are descended from Ichabod Nye of Middleboro, who settled in Marion in 1720. King George I granted a 1,100-acre tract in Marion to Ichabod Nye for 35 pounds. This tract encompassed much of the southern outskirts of Wharf Village as well as Charles Neck. In fact, Converse Road was originally called Nye Street, which probably evolved from a Native American trail.