Spring Street · No. 1 · NWB.147

1 Spring Street

Enoch Stickney House

Built Before 1775National Register district

Built: c. 1725
Style: Georgian Georgian
Neighborhood: South End District
MACRIS: NWB.147 ↗

History

This house has the form and architectural details of the early Georgian style. It is a two-story building with a pitched roof and a symmetrical five-bay facade. The building’s embellishments are simple yet classically inspired, as evidenced by the cornice moulding and window caps. The doorway has also been formalized, being flanked by Doric pilasters. This house is likely to date from the early eighteenth century.

The earliest owners of this house have yet to be documented. Stylistically, the home dates to the early eighteenth century. It was during this period that the Sound End of Newburyport, near the Merrimack River, was settled. It is one of the earlier areas of settlement in the city.

In 1851, this house was owned by Enoch Stickney. Stickney was probably the son of Enoch Stickney, an army musician on Plum Island during the War of 1812. He also signed the petition to incorporate Newburyport in 1762.

The Stickney family owned the house until the end of the nineteenth century.

Spring Street was accepted by the town selectmen on September 21, 1797, although it had undoubtedly been laid out before that date. Today, 1 Spring Street remains a single-family home.

Planning work on this building?

Reviews that may apply

Newburyport Historic District (National Register, listed 1984), contributing in the 1984 nomination · Demolition Control Overlay District (DCOD) · Parcel 16-21 · Zone R2

Zoning Board of Appeals decides
Listed as contributing in 1984, so removing more than 25% of its exterior walls, counted cumulatively since 2014 and including walls enclosed by an addition or openings filled in, needs a DCOD special permit; the Board may grant one only if the building retains no substantial remaining market value or reasonable use. The Historical Commission sends an advisory report. Replacing siding, or windows and doors in their openings, does not count.
Zoning Ordinance §XXVIII ↗
Newburyport Historical Commission decides whether to impose a delay
Built c. 1725, so 75 or more years old: removing more than 25% of its exterior walls, changing the roofline (pitch, towers, cupolas, anything projecting above the roof), moving it, or adding a dormer that misses the setback and pitch rules is "demolition" under the demolition delay ordinance. The Commission holds a hearing within 30 days and may impose a delay of up to 18 months. In the DCOD the wall test goes to the Zoning Board instead; the Commission keeps roofline, roof pitch and dormer work. Parts of the building documented as younger than 75 years are excluded on a written determination by the Zoning Administrator.
Code of Ordinances ch. 5 art. X, §§5-307–5-308 (June 2026) ↗
Zoning Administrator first stop
Every project starts with a zoning determination from the Zoning Administrator, which says which of these reviews apply and whether the work also needs zoning relief (a special permit for a non-conformity, or a variance). Fees, forms and filing deadlines are on the City’s site.
City flowchart, June 2026 ↗

Not legal advice, not an official City publication, and not the position of the Historical Commission or any board. Says what the ordinances say as of September 30, 2026; the Zoning Administrator decides what applies. Boundaries: Merrimack Valley Planning Commission / City of Newburyport GIS (MIMAP); 1984 status from the National Register nomination's district data sheets. City's quick guide to the DCOD and demolition delay ↗ · Do I need approval? Project by project →