Thomas Macy Warehouse, Straight Wharf, Nantucket, Nantucket County, MA

Significance: A large brick warehouse for ships' stores built immediately after the Great Fire of 1846 during Nantucket's whaling prosperity. / All buildings in the vicinity of this building were destroyed by the Great Fire of July 13, 1846. Land on which the present structure stands was owned by Levi S. Starbuck, who sold same to Thomas Macy in September, 1846. Construction on the present building began immediately after this sale. In completion, the building was used as a supply store dealing principally in marine outfitting and ships' supplies during the peak of the whaling industry. Freight was lightered by small craft through the north entrance via canal to an adjacent area formerly known as Still Dock. Windlasses unloaded goods to storage areas above the north end. (Remnants of a large opening at the west end of the north wall is still in evidence.) A windlass is still in place in the attic at the south end of the building, as well. Philip and Isaac Macy, sons of the builder, inherited the property and continued its use as a chandlery and warehouse. In 1905, James A. Holmes, Jr. and Chester Pease purchased the property from Lydia H. and Mary Eliza Macy, granddaughters of Thomas Macy. In 1931 James A. Holmes, Jr. purchased Pease's portion of the property. In 1944, the Nantucket Foundation, Incorporated, purchased the property from the estate of James A. Holmes, Jr. It has been known as the Kenneth Taylor Galleries to the present time (1967).
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-207
Survey number: HABS MA-914
Building/structure dates: 1846 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1944 Subsequent Work