- Built
- c. 1763
- Style
- Georgian Georgian
- Neighborhood
- Ocean Mills District
- MACRIS
- NWB.527 ↗
- Formerly
- 15 Kent Street
History
This week, I delve into the Ocean Mills Historic District, a significant part of Newburyport’s 19th-century industrial neighborhoods. It’s a place of pride, where the occupants were involved in the thriving Ocean Steam Mills or the burgeoning shoemaking industry, a popular cottage industry in Newburyport.
The district stands out, distinct from the grandeur of the High Street district to the South and the bustling Merrimac Street shipbuilding area to the North.
The land development between Munroe and High Streets began with the building of the Ocean Mill. Before 1845, there were few buildings of any type, and much of the land in this area was used for pasture and tillage. The Ocean Mill was incorporated in 1845. The land for the factory between Kent Street and Carter Street from Munroe Street was purchased from the heirs of Reverend James Morse. Ocean Street was laid out then, and the mill was erected on the parcel between Munroe and Ocean Streets. The parcel on Munroe between Warren and Carter was sold to Albert Currier to erect a brick housing block. This was the beginning of the development of the surrounding residential area.
This two-story house with a pitched roof and three-bay facade is Georgian in style. It was extensively renovated in 1972 and again in the last few years.
The earliest owner of this home appears to be John Dane, who bought it in 1763. At the turn of the twentieth century, John Caldwell of the Caldwell rum family owned the property. In 1918, the property passed to Caldwell’s heirs, who sold it to Vincenzo Tirone.
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 52-4 · 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. 1763, 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 photos
1 view · Biff Bouse
More built Before 1775
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS), NWB.B, NWB.527
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 9 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)