- Built
- c. 1852–1865
- Style
- Greek Revival Greek Revival
- Neighborhood
- High Street District
- MACRIS
- NWB.600 ↗
- Formerly
- 236 High Street
History
252 High Street, formerly 236 High Street, appears to have been owned or built by John Ambrose McArthur (1831-1887) for the first time.
He was born near Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1831, of excellent ancestry; his grandfather had belonged to the gentry of Lanarkshire, Scotland, and his father, being a man of finished education, had graduated from Dublin University. The latter became an officer in the Queen’s Regiment, and was at the burial of Sir John Moore, and at the battle of Waterloo. His mother was the daughter of a Royalist who emigrated to Halifax at the close of the American Revolution.
After coming to the States, John resided for a time in Newburyport, where he married Fanny E. True of Yarmouth on 25 Oct. 1859. She was the daughter of Alfred R. and Frances True. He marked Artist as his occupation at the time. After he buried his first wife, he was in business in Montreal. Still, he later returned to Newburyport, where he was in business for a time. John pursued his medical studies at Harvard Medical School, where he graduated in 1872. He came to Lynn and, in a remarkably short time, found himself in an extensive and lucrative practice.
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 53-67 · 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. 1852–1865, 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
3 views · Biff Bouse
From the archive
4 items · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1830–1860
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.600
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 6 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)