- Built
- c. 1845
- Style
- Greek Revival Greek Revival
- MACRIS
- NWB.497 ↗
History
This house is Greek Revival in style and like many others in Newburyport. The two-and-a-half story house has a pitched roof with gable facing the street. The Continuous cornice helps to create the effect of a Greek pediment. The house also has the cornerboards, heavy entablature and trabeated doorway characteristic of the Greek Revival style.
This house was probably built by a member of the Hills family. Mrs. Lydia Hills was the owner of the structure in 1851. Prior to 1872 the house was conveyed to Philip K. Hills, who had earlier lived at 17 Washington Street. Philip Hills was a weigher and measurer at the Custom House.
Another member of the Hills family who lived in this house was Laura Coombs Hills, daughter of Philip and Mary. Laura was an artist who designed Christmas cards and valentines. Later she did pictorial illustrations for St. Nicholas Magazine. She studied in Boston and New York. She opened a studio in Boston on Huntington Avenue and later at 66 Chestnut Street. Miss Hills also designed costumes and she specialized in miniatures. She exhibited her work in Boston and abroad. In 1897 she was elected to the Society of American Artists. The Historical Society of Old Newbury has a collection of Miss Hills work.
Read more about this home at:
map.marybakerart.com
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 46-18 · Zone R3
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. 1845, 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
5 items · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1830–1860
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.497
- Laura Coombs Hills, watercolor of poppy flower character from Anna M. Pratt's 1890 book Flower Folk".
- Portrait of Laura Coombs Hills, ca. 1899.
- Laura Coombs Hills - Hollyhocks and Dahlias
- Plan of Newburyport Mass. from an actual surveyH. McIntyre. 1851.
- Biff Bouse, Instagram post (@newburyportarchitecture), 2020-03-19