- Built
- c. 1849
- Style
- Italianate Italianate
- Neighborhood
- High Street District
- MACRIS
- NWB.1436 ↗
- Formerly
- 273 High Street
History
There was no “District Data Sheet” for this building, and I could find no deeds except for one granting a right-of-way to the City for sewage lines along the Eastern side of the property towards the mid-century neighborhood behind.
Why is there a lack of information? This home has never been sold since it was built in 1849.
In August 1847, the Belleville Congregational Church of Newbury, now Newburyport, ordained its third pastor, Daniel Taggart Fiske. Two years after his ordainment, a parsonage was built for him directly across High Street from the Belleville Congregational Church. Rev. Fiske served the church for over 40 years.
The property remains under the ownership of the Belleville Parsonage Trustees to this day.
Planning work on this building?
Reviews that may apply
Newburyport Historic District (National Register, listed 1984) · Demolition Control Overlay District (DCOD) · Parcel 40-19-A · Zone HSRB
Zoning Board of Appeals may decide
In the DCOD. Whether removing more than 25% of the exterior walls needs a DCOD special permit depends on the building’s status in the 1984 National Register nomination, which this site has not matched for this lot yet; the Office of Planning and Development keeps the list.
Newburyport Historical Commission decides whether to impose a delay
Built c. 1849, 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. 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 (MACRIS) - NWB.1436
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 2 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)