- Built
- c. 1890
- Style
- Queen Anne Queen Anne
- Neighborhood
- High Street District
- MACRIS
- NWB.2846 ↗
History
The house is Queen Anne in style, and was likely built in the early 1890’s. The off-center turret, large massing, patterned tile roof, and scalloped siding are all indicative of the late nineteenth century Victorian architectural styles.
There was no data sheet or prior research on this home that I could find, but after some digging, I was able to find one of the earliest owners, if not the first, of this building. Rufus Edwin Thurlow and Anna Hale Lunt lived in this home as early as 1900, but perhaps earlier. Rufus’ family lived nearby on Oak Street, and his father, also Rufus, was a well known Fish Monger with a store on Ferry Wharf in Newburyport. Rufus Jr., worked as a clerk at Barton’s Shoe Store, and married Anna Lunt in 1894. It’s quite possible this was the couple’s first home.
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 33-3 · Zone HSRA
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. 1890, 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
7 items · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1860–1900
Sources
- The Massachusetts Historical Commission - Historic Building Detail: NWB.2846
- “Newburyport and Vicinity” Newburyport Daily Herald, August 23, 1877, p. 3.
- “Fish Dealers Discharged” Newburyport Daily News, March 20, 1900, p. 4.
- “Death of Mrs. Rufus Thurlow” Newburyport Daily News, March 11, 1902, p. 6.
- “Sudden Death at City Hall” Newburyport Daily News, May 27, 1908, p. 1.
- "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch, Massachusetts > Essex > Newburyport Ward 1 > ED 429 > image 1 of 30.
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Map(s) from Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts. Sanborn Map Company, Sep, 1906. Oct, 1914. Map(s)