- Built
- c. 1800
- Style
- Federal Federal
- Neighborhood
- Ocean Mills District
- MACRIS
- NWB.72 ↗
- Formerly
- 17 Kent Street
History
This house is Federal in form and is typical of the homes built by Newburyport's upper class during the early years of the nineteenth century. Its three stories with hipped roof and decreasing window size in the upper stories are characteristic of the style. The window lintels have greater detail than many examples indicating that the origianl doorway might have been quite well detailed.
Although this house was built at the turn of the nineteenth century the earliest known owner is Butler Abbott. Abbott's heirs owned the property during the 1820's when Kirk Boott lived in the house.
Boott was born in England in 1763 and came to Newburyport in 1825. He then took up residence in this house. Boott was aristocratic in his ways and aroused much curiousity in the town. He undertook no business, howeber, and facts about him are scarce. At his death in 1838 Boott left his estate to his housekeeper, Miss Elizabeth Spencer. Miss Spencer lived in the house on Kent Street until the property was solt to Albert Currier on December 1, 1845.
Albert Currer was a well known mason and contractor in Newburyport. At a young age he built the large brick factories, Oceam Steam Mills on Kent Street and Globe Steam Mills on Federal Street. Currier also built and owned much of themill houseing in the neighborhood around the Oceam Mills. Currier built the Town Hall in 1850 and the Immaculate Conception Church shortly thereafter. Currier had interests in shipping and many Newburyport Organizations. He also served terms as mayor of the City of Newburport and as representative to the General Court.
Transcribed from:
http://www.newburyporthistoricdistrict.org/21%20Kent%20Street%20-%20Boott-Currier%20House.pdf
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 52-5 · 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. 1800, 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 1775–1830
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.72
- Biff Bouse, Instagram post (@newburyportarchitecture), 2019-12-28
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 9 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)