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Photo: Biff Bouse

High Street · No. 44 · NWB.1458

44 High Street

Magowin-Colby House

Built 1830–1860National Register district
Built
c. 1860
Style
Greek Revival/Italianate Italianate
Neighborhood
High Street District
MACRIS
NWB.1458 ↗

History

44 High Street is a 2-and-a-half story, wood-frame dwelling clad in clapboard, with a symmetrical façade in the Greek Revival style.

No prior research was available on this home. I was able to track the deeds back to 1925–1926, when the Lowell family reassembled the property from three inherited shares.

Census and newspaper records trace the family well into the 19th century. The Magowin and Colby households appear together in Newburyport in the 1870 and 1880 censuses, including Mary E. Magowin, her daughter Helen H. Magowin, and Frances A. Colby. The family’s residence at 44 High Street is documented as of 1886, when funeral services were held for Mary E. Magowin, widow of Capt. Joseph Magowin, were held at the house. Frances A. Colby died at 44 High Street in 1901, and Helen H. Magowin was the resident owner in 1921, when a furnace fire occurred at the house shortly before her death that December. Upon Helen’s death, her half-interest passed by will, leading to the 1926 reassembly of the property.

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 21-79 · Zone R2

  1. 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.

    Zoning Ordinance §XXVIII ↗

  2. Newburyport Historical Commission decides whether to impose a delay

    Built c. 1860, 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) ↗

  3. 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.

    City flowchart, June 2026 ↗

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

3 items · maps, papers, old photographs

More built 1830–1860

44 Boardman Street, Newburyport01 / 03 · c. 1844 · Built 1830–186044 Boardman Street50 Boardman Street, Newburyport02 / 03 · c. 1860 · Built 1830–186050 Boardman Street56 Boardman Street, Newburyport03 / 03 · c. 1860 · Built 1830–186056 Boardman Street

Sources

  1. MACRIS, NWB.1458.
  2. Sanborn Fire Insurance Map(s) from Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts. Sanborn Map Company, Sep. 1906; Oct. 1914. Maps.
  3. McIntyre, H. (Henry). “Plan of Newburyport, Mass. from an actual survey.” Map. Philadelphia: H. McIntyre, 1851.
  4. City of Newburyport Assessor. Property record, 44 High Street (Map 21, Lot 79), FY2026.
  5. Deeds — Essex South District Registry of Deeds, Salem, Massachusetts:
  6. * Book 36962, Page 511 (2018)
  7. * Book 13301, Page 297 (1995)
  8. * Book 13038, Page 100 (1995)
  9. * Book 11045, Page 315 (1991)
  10. * Book 6448, Page 758 (1974)
  11. * Book 3569, Page 373 (1947)
  12. * Book 2673, Pages 179–180 (1926)
  13. * Book 2666, Pages 326–327 (1925–1926)
  14. U.S. Federal Census, Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts:
  15. * 1870, Ward One
  16. * 1880, Enumeration District 223
  17. Newburyport Daily News and Newburyport Herald (Newburyport, Massachusetts):
  18. * 26 July 1886
  19. * 21 September 1901
  20. * 22 November 1921
  21. * 31 December 1921
  22. * 19, 23, 30 January 1922
  23. Biff Bouse, Instagram post (@newburyportarchitecture), 2026-07-05