- Built
- c. 1750
- Style
- Georgian Georgian
- Neighborhood
- Washington Street Residential District
- MACRIS
- NWB.230 ↗
History
This house has a very unusual shape. It appears to have originally been of two stories with a hipped roof. It is possible that an extension was added to the building at a later date, creating the present large, nearly square form. This house has several exceptional features. These include the large central chimney and the Georgian front entrance, which is flanked by classical pilasters.
This home was first owned by John Harbut, a block-maker, who, with his son Charles, had a shop on Queen’s Wharf. Charles was captured aboard the privateer brigantine Dalton in 1776. He spent the next two years at Mill Prison in Plymouth, England. In 1780, Charles returned to Newburyport to return to the family business.
Nineteenth-century owners include Rufus Danforth, the proprietor in 1851. Danforth was listed as a Columbian respirator in the City Directory for that year. Danforth also owned the next house on the upper side of Washington Street. The house remained in the Danforth family until the late 19th century.
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 49-87 · 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. 1750, 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
2 items · maps, papers, old photographs
More built Before 1775
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.230