East Town

The northern part of East Town, above Wheatley Street, contains many fine old homes of pure Georgian design. These homes were built by Derbys, Ornes, Pitmans, and Pickerings—the sea merchants who made up New Jerusalem's first aristocracy. Most of these homes, unfortunately, have fallen into neglect; as a whole, East Town is decaying, some of it beyond repair. Of the few old New Jerusalem families still residing here, most teeter on the brink of ruin.
Streets are of brick, 40 feet wide, and in some need of repair. Tree roots have so buckled and raised the brick sidewalks that walking in the streets is more comfortable.
South of Wheatley Street the ground slopes sharply to the river. The homes are modest and tightly spaced, and the streets are narrow. Those few African-Americans in New Jerusalem live here, clustered together as every group in Jerusalem is except the old-line WASP majority. Some make a good living, and some are popular, well-respected citizens who can trace their New Jerusalem ancestry to before 1788, when the Commonwealth outlawed the slave trade. As a group, though, they are poor and feel looked at and looked down upon.
A number of small businesses exist along Wantage and River Streets. Freight trains pass through day and night. New Jerusalem's last operating textile mill can be found here.

Notable Locations

• African Methodist Episcopal Church - 571 Halsey Street
• Anderson's Chemical Supply - 650 Wantage Street
• Clemson Ice House - 600 E Water Street
• First Unitarian Church of New Jerusalem - 656 Federal Street
• Goodwill House - 811 E. Derby Street
• John and Sarah Smythe - 753 Noyes Street
• Knights of Columbus - 510 Federal Street
• Martin Public School - 511 Noyes Street
• Mrs. Melissa Thorne - 616 Wheatley Street
• Museum of Wonders and Oddities - 711 Hobbs Lane
• New Jerusalem Worsted Mills - 750 E Wantage Street
• Northside Transformer Station - 606 Wheatly Street
• Pickering House - 698 Federal Street
• WJM-TV - 700 East Wantage Street

Maps

• 

  East Town Color

Type

Neighbourhood

Included Locations

• African Methodist Episcopal Church - 571 Halsey Street
• Anderson's Chemical Supply - 650 Wantage Street
• Clemson Ice House - 600 E Water Street
• First Unitarian Church of New Jerusalem - 656 Federal Street
• Goodwill House - 811 E. Derby Street
• John and Sarah Smythe - 753 Noyes Street
• Knights of Columbus - 510 Federal Street
• Martin Public School - 511 Noyes Street
• Mrs. Melissa Thorne - 616 Wheatley Street
• Museum of Wonders and Oddities - 711 Hobbs Lane
• New Jerusalem Worsted Mills - 750 E Wantage Street
• Northside Transformer Station - 606 Wheatly Street
• Pickering House - 698 Federal Street
• WJM-TV - 700 East Wantage Street