- Built
- c. 1870
- Style
- Second Empire Second Empire
- Neighborhood
- High Street District
- MACRIS
- NWB.55 ↗
- Formerly
- 271½ High Street
History
This house is a vernacular Victorian with elements of several popular styles from the third quarter of the 19th century. The Mansard roof and roof dormers are features of the Second Empire style. The brackets under the eaves are seen in many of the period’s styles, including the Second Empire and Italian Villa styles.
The stair rail at the front door is Italianate in its weight and form. The porch, however, is lighter, almost stick-like in character. This may have been added later in the Victorian period when the Stick style was popular.
This lot of land was sold by Joshua Pilsbury to Andrew W. Miltimore in 1849. Miltimore lived in the three-story Federal house at 281 High Street in 1851. Shortly after purchasing this piece of land, the two-story Victorian home was built. By 1872, Mrs. Andrew Miltimore had moved to this house.
Andrew Miltimore, probably the heir of Rev. James Miltimore, who built the Federal home next door, was quite active in organizing the annexation of the Belleville section of Newburyport to the town of Newburyport in 1851. On April 24 of that year, the selectmen of the city, along with Daniel Colman and Andrew W. Miltimore, were authorized and instructed to settle all questions relating to the division of property, the payment of debts, and the support of the poor of Newburyport and Newbury.
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 40-19 · Zone HSRB
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. 1870, 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
2 views · Biff Bouse
More built 1860–1900
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System - NWB.55
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 2 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)