- Built
- c. 1850
- Style
- Italianate Italianate
- MACRIS
- NWB.348 ↗
- Formerly
- 83 Lime Street
History
This house features elements of several mid-nineteenth-century styles. The bold cornerboards, wide cornice, and front entrance with sidelights and flanking pilasters are Greek Revival features. The flat roof and boldly bracketed cornice are Italianate in style.
The house had asbestos siding in the late twentieth century, but has been replaced with clapboard siding. The Italianate-style window moldings have been replaced, and a portico with a matching bracketed cornice was added over the front door.
The original owner of this house has not yet been documented. In 1851, it was owned by Mrs. Mary Scott.
Before 1872, the property had been sold to Mr. Hiram A. Tenney. Tenney was a librarian at the Newburyport Public Library. Tenney was first elected to the post in September 1855. He was re-elected each year, except in 1862, until he died in 1889.
Tenney and his heirs owned this property until the second quarter of the twentieth century.
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 21-36 · 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.
Newburyport Historical Commission decides whether to impose a delay
Built c. 1850, 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.
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 →
More built 1830–1860
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS), NWB.348
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 25 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)