13-17 Centre Street, Tallman Warehouse, c. 1790-1800, Federal Style

13-17 Centre Street, Tallman Warehouse, c. 1790-1800, Federal Style

One of the city's earliest extant buildings, this Federal brick warehouse at 13 Centre Street was constructed c. 1790-1800 by William Tallman, who purchased the land for this building from Joseph Russell. Since 1765, Tallman had been joint owner with Joseph and Caleb Russell of four small whaling sloops, and he continued in the whaling industry until after the Revolutionary War when he became a general merchant. A successful whaling merchant, Tallman served 15 years on the city's first Board of Selectmen. The Tallman Warehouse, which was one of few to survive the 1820 fire on Centre Street, serves as home to the Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE (WHALE), a local historic preservation organization that preserves and restores buildings. Attached to the Tallman Warehouse on the west is 17 Centre Street, is the Ruben Russell Warehouse, built in a similar style to the Tallman Warehouse. Today the structure houses commercial businesses.