Essex Street · No. 16 · NWB.93

16 Essex Street

Samuel Emerson House

Built 1775–1830National Register district

Built: c. 1804
Style: Federal Federal
Neighborhood: South End District
MACRIS: NWB.93 ↗

History

This house is an excellent example of the transition between the Georgian and Federal styles. The house is Federal, three stories, with a hipped roof and small, nearly square windows in the third story. The five-bay, symmetrical facade is characteristic of both the Georgian and Federal styles. The doorway is pedimented and is flanked by Doric pilasters. In the fully developed style, the doorway has a fanlight and sidelights.

The original owner was Samuel Emerson, a Coppersmith. The surrounding area was settled by merchants and mariners before the turn of the 19th century, when they preferred houses on High Street.

In 1851, William Wells owned 16 Essex Street. Wells came to Newburyport from Andover in 1847. He was the first principal of the Putman Free School. In 1850, Wells was on the committee to establish a public library in Newburyport.

By 1872, the house was owned by Dr. Henry C. Perkins. Perkins also owned three or four other houses on Essex Street. The house remained in the Perkins family well into the present century.

Planning work on this building?

Reviews that may apply

Newburyport Historic District (National Register, listed 1984), contributing in the 1984 nomination · Downtown Overlay District (DOD) · Parcel 6-20 · Zone R3

Planning Board decides
Downtown, new construction, alteration or demolition of a historic building (individually listed or contributing in 1984) needs a DOD special permit, judged against the Secretary of the Interior's Standards; the Historical Commission sends an advisory report. Replacing windows, doors, signs, awnings or fences is reviewed by the Planning Office at staff level, with a window inventory; a new opening in a wall needs the Board. This lot is in an underlying R3 district, where alterations (not demolition) of a one- or two-family house are excluded from DOD review. The demolition delay ordinance does not apply downtown except to work the Zoning Administrator excludes from DOD review.
Zoning Ordinance §XXVII ↗
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 →