Home of the Week
The home is one block from the waterfront.
102 Front St. Unit 1, Marblehead
$699,900
Style Condo
Year built 1850
Square feet 1,100
Bedrooms 2
Baths 1 full
Sewer/Water Public
Fee $300 month
Taxes $4,370 (2026)
It’s been at the forefront of Marblehead’s history pretty much since the coastal North Shore town was founded around 1690. Known first as Ye Way and then Ye Street, it became Front Street around 1801, per historic researchers.
The condo for sale on this historic street is one block from the town’s harbor and, according to the Massachusetts Historical Commission, was built when homeowners weren’t interested in water views.
“Our ancestors chose warmth and protection over water views. The rush to live right on the water did not start until after central heating by furnace was efficient and well established,” a researcher concluded in a document held by the commission.
Now, the late-19th century home with a Mansard-style roof at 102 Front St. is a three-unit condo complex. Entry to the home is via a rising stairway that ends in a sheltering portico over the front door.
The home is in Marblehead’s Historic District, and a town commission carefully protects the neighborhood against changes that could run counter to the preservation efforts.
Just inside, there is a 61-square-foot foyer with the stairwell to the second-floor unit. The door to the first-floor unit for sale opens into the 160-square-foot living room that showcases a historic element preserved throughout the home: oak flooring, refinished and believed to be original to the home.
The current owner has placed a full-size sofa, an accent chair, and a coffee table, all without clogging the pathway needed to transit to the rest of the home. The room features the dark flooring counterpointed by white walls and ceiling, along with a pair of double-hung windows. In a corner is a working electric fireplace. There is a clear glass central light fixture, and an accent wall is decorated with Sandberg wallpaper.
A hallway adorned with Farrow & Ball Chateau Purnon wallpaper connects to the rear of the home and provides access to the primary bedroom, on the right and behind a pair of French doors.
As one enters the 157-square-foot bedroom, there are closets on each side, and just beyond is some curved built-in shelving. There is a window in the middle of the rear exterior wall, recessed lighting, and the original oak flooring.
The hallway ends at the dining room with its own Farrow & Ball accent wall, along with three double-hung windows on two walls. A chandelier is centrally located. A door off the dining room provides access to a 39-square-foot storage room.
Next is the kitchen, with natural light plus crystal clear glass pendant lights accompanied by recessed lighting. There is a central island topped by a waterfall-style slab of white granite with grey veining, white cabinets underneath, an undermount stainless steel sink, and two pendant lights above.
The gas stove is sandwiched between two sets of Shaker-style cabinets, the upper level of which has clear glass doors. The stainless steel range is backed by a white subway tile backsplash and topped by a stainless steel oven vent.
Handmade custom shutters are installed over two double-hung windows with white muntins located opposite the island. Flooring is the original oak. A folding door covers the laundry room, which is also off the kitchen as a rear door to the backyard.
To the right of the range and behind the white pocket door is the unit’s one full bath. It’s 45 square feet, features tile flooring and a single vanity with a granite top that echoes the kitchen island, overlooked by a square mirror. Frameless glass doors cover the shower, which has a white subway ceramic tile backsplash with a decorative mosaic accent band. There is a white shower base.
The second bedroom is to the left of the range. It’s 87 square feet and has a pair of casement windows on the rear exterior walls. There is custom Sandberg wallpaper on the walls. Flooring is original oak.
Chandeliers are not included in the sale, according to the listing agent, Ryan DeLisle of Coldwell Banker Realty in Marblehead.
John R. Ellement can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @JREbosglobe. Send listings to: [email protected]. Please note: We may not respond to submissions we won’t pursue. Subscribe to our newsletter at Boston.com/address-newsletter.
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