- Built
- c. 1885
- Style
- Queen Anne Queen Anne
- Neighborhood
- Victorian Residential District
- MACRIS
- NWB.1018 ↗
History
Barton Street was laid out in 1893 by Lewis T. Barton and Richard G. Adams. The land through which the street was laid was divided into 31 house lots which were then sold to private individuals who built vernacular Victorian single family homes. Barton was the owner of the Barton Shoe Company, which in 1899, established a factory on Charter Street.
Most of the homes on Barton street were built around the turn of the 20th century. The house at 19 Barton Street has several Victorian features including the small window panes surrounding the outside of a window, characteristic of the Queen Anne period. It also has the curved sunburst motif associated with the Queen Anne period.
There was no data sheet or other available reference for this home, but I did find the early, and possibly the first, owners of the home. As early as 1900, John J. & Susan T. Dunn were living at 19 Barton. John was an Irish immigrant, who was working as a comb maker, likely at one of the nearby comb factories.
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 24-27 · 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. 1885, 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 →
From the archive
4 items · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1860–1900
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.1018
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System - NWB.AG
- “Official Ballot.” Newburyport Daily News, December 6, 1902, p. 6.
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Map(s) from Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts. Sanborn Map Company, Sep, 1906. Oct, 1914. Map(s).
- “Death of Mrs. Susan T. Dunn This Morning” Newburyport Daily News, November 5, 1914, p. 8.