Downtown, Arkham
Downtown is hillier than the Northside. Although the ground rises steadily north from the river, there are dips and ridges as it climbs. The town square is the most level part of Downtown. North of Curwen Street this thickly built neighborhood is mostly residential, and mostly lower class. The houses bordering the common (the town square) on the north and east sides are stately mansions, but the homes behind them, topped with gables and gambrel roofs and built around 1820, are commoner and more crowded together. Arkham Sanitarium was originally a huge Georgian double home built by the Pickering brothers, Paul and Thomas Jr., in 1822.
Most of Arkham’s civic services are located on the west and south sides of the common (Independence Square as it is formally known). They include town hall, the courthouse, the police station, and the fire hall. Most of these buildings were constructed in the mid-eighteenth century in a classical style with large pillars and pediments; some have wings added later. Town hall is a four-story building of late Georgian or Federalist Revival design. Professionals, particularly lawyers and bail bondsmen, are found here, as are Arkham’s two major banks.
The Common is surrounded on its other sides by large and impressive Federalist homes built in the early nineteenth century.Many have been divided into apartments or boarding houses. A small area along Garrison Street features good restaurants and a variety of family entertainment. This area may be busy on weekend evenings, unusual in Arkham.
Peabody Avenue, Fish Street, and Federal Street are lined with small shops and industries, constituting one of Arkham’s dirtier, smellier areas. A few local markets and diners also appear there. Several abandoned mills decay at the water’s edge.
Notable Locations
- Adams Lumber Yard - 315 E Water Street
- Amherst Theater - 480 N Garrison Street
- Arkham Bell Telephone - 345 E Armitage Street
- Arkham Cab Company - 433 N Peabody Avenue
- Arkham Edison - 470 Marsh Street
- Arkham First Bank - 150 E Hyde Street
- Arkham Gas Company - 235 Armitage Street
- Arkham Police Station - 302 E Armitage Street
- Arkham Public Library - 630 Marsh Street
- Arkham Sanitarium - 225 E Derby Street
- Arkham Trolleys - 404 E Armitage Street
- Art's Billiards - 139 E Armitage Street
- Asbury M.E. Church - 640 Marsh Street
- Ballard's Auto Lot - NW Corner of High Lane and Peabody
- Bee's Diner - 332 E Curwen Street
- Bunden's Bindery - 420 N Peabody Avenue
- Circle Rite Lodge - 410 N Peabody Ave
- Courthouse and Jail - 666 N Peabody Avenue
- Crawford's Restaurant - NE Corner of Garrison and Armitage
- Demolition Site - NW Corner of Marsh and Armitage
- Dennison's Ice Cream Emporium - 148 E Armitage Street
- Diamond Credit Agency - 682 Marsh Street
- Dr. Heinrich T. Muelhig - 157 E Curwin Street
- Dr. Sinderwald, Cosmetic Surgeon - 568 Marsh Street
- Fire Department - 418 E Armitage Street
- First National Grocery Store - 422 N Garrison Street
- Fleetwood Diner - 715 Dyer Street
- Hale Building - 589 Marsh Street
- Independence Square (The Common)
- Innsmouth Bus - 705 Dyer Street
- Kenneth Heath, Private Investigator - 136 E Curwen Street
- Massachusetts Guard Armory - 560 Marsh Street
- Miskatonic Valley Savings Bank - 420 Marsh Street
- Northside Market - 467 Marsh Street
- Penny Arcade - NE Corner of High Lane and Garrison
- Phillips 66 Station - NW Corner of High Lane and Peabody
- Pin Liou Tattoos - 443 Fish Street
- Railroad Properties - Downtown
- Rotary Club - 650 N Garrison Street
- Sheehan Contractor Supply - 411 Fish Street
- Slaughter House - 400 E Water Street
- Telenews Cinema - 552 N Garrison Street
- Town Hall - 551 N Peabody Avenue
- U.S. Post Office - 487 N Peabody Avenue
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