- Built
- c. 1835
- Style
- Greek Revival Greek Revival
- Neighborhood
- Merrimack Shipbuilding District
- MACRIS
- NWB.274 ↗
- Formerly
- 278 Merrimac Street
History
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE The style is evident in the building’s cornerboards, cornice moulding, and in the exceptional front entrance. The cornice resembles a stylized dentil moulding. The doorway is flanked by sidelights and by fluted Doric pilasters that support a bold entablature above.
The exceptional features of the doorway are the classical wreath motif in the frieze of this entablature and the foliate carving around the edges of the door.
Apparently, this house was built by a member of the Jackman family about 1835. After that date, George W. Jackman is listed as the owner in the deeds for the abutting lots. There were several George W. Jackmans in the prominent shipbuilding family. The original owner was undoubtedly involved in the shipbuilding industry, probably as a shipbuilder or ship carpenter.
In 1872, George L. Jackman owned this house. Jackman sold stoves and tinware in a store at 37 Pleasant Street. In 1894, George W. Jackman and Rosalie Jackman sold this house to Moses H. Fowler. The house was still owned by the Fowler family in 1924.
Planning work on this building?
Reviews that may apply
Newburyport Historic District (National Register, listed 1984) · Demolition Control Overlay District (DCOD) · Parcel 65-23 · Zone WMD
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. 1835, 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 →
From the archive
6 items · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1830–1860
Sources
- “Deck Plank, and other Lumber” Newburyport Daily Herald, Saturday, December 27, 1851, p. 6.
- “From the Boston Atlas” Newburyport Daily Herald, Tuesday, November 13, 1855, p. 1.
- “Accident” Newburyport Daily Herald, Tuesday, June 21, 1859, p. 2.
- “Refrigerator - For sale” Newburyport Daily News, Saturday, April 29, 1911, p. 8.
- “Tenement - To let” Newburyport Daily News, Friday, August 23, 1912, p. 9.
- “Flat - To Let” Newburyport Daily News, Tuesday, February 23, 1915, p. 7.
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts. Sanborn Map Company, Oct 1914. Map.
- December, 1969; January, 1980 views from: Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System - NWB.274
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 3b (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)