- Built
- c. 1800
- Style
- Federal Federal
- Neighborhood
- South End District
- MACRIS
- NWB.96 ↗
History
This house is an exceptional example of the gambrel-roofed homes built in Newburyport at the turn of the nineteenth century. The gambrel roof, favored for its excellent headroom in the attic story, was popular in Newburyport through the Federal period.
The most notable architectural feature of the house is the front entrance. It is in the projecting central bay, which is pedimented. The door is flanked by fluted Doric pilasters and is surmounted by a semi-circular fanlight with delicate tracery. The mouldings around the fanlight and in the pediment and entablature are elaborate. This doorway is exceptional in all details.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE This house was undoubtedly built by a person of means, probably a merchant or mariner, during Newburyport’s most prosperous economic period at the turn of the nineteenth century.
In 1851, this house was owned by Tristam Chase. Chase had a grocery business at 3 Merrimac Street. By 1872, the property had been conveyed to Rev. Randolph Campbell, of the Fourth Religious Society of Newburyport. Rev. Campbell came to Newburyport from Woodbridge, New Jersey, in 1837. He was the pastor of the Prospect Street Meetinghouse between 1837 and 1877.
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 7-12 · 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 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
1 item · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1775–1830
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.96