History
This house is a good example of the domestic architecture built in Newburyport during the eighteenth century. The house is Georgian in style, with a pitched roof and a symmetrical five-bay facade. Features of the home worth noting include the massive central chimney and the long, low lean-to at the rear of the house.
The front entrance of this house was altered during the mid-nineteenth century. It is Greek Revival, with sidelights flanking pilasters and a bold, heavy entablature.
Summer Street was laid out in 1766, although house lots had been sold and built upon along the new way earlier. This house was probably built in the mid-eighteenth century. The earliest owners of this house have yet to be documented. Pulaski Woodman sold the property to William H. Brewster.
William H. Brewster lived in a house at 8 Summer Street, which was demolished before 1934. He may have owned this house as an investment or as a family member’s residence. Brewster was a prominent citizen of Newburyport. He invested in trading vessels. William Brewster was one of several owners of the ship “Crown Point,” which was built by John Currier, Jr. in 1856. The ship was captured by Confederate cruisers in 1863. Its owners later received compensation for their loss under the Alabama claims.
Between 1834 and 1854, Brewster was in partnership with Joseph B. Morss. Morss and Brewster published the Daily Herald and the Semi-Weekly Herald.
This house was owned by Allen Brewster in 1924.
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 46-35 · 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.480
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 12 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)