Washington Street · No. 44 · NWB.228
44 Washington Street
- Built
- c. 1850
- Style
- Greek Revival Greek Revival
- Neighborhood
- Washington Street Residential District
- MACRIS
- NWB.228 ↗
- Formerly
- 40 Washington Street
History
This two and a half story house with pitched roof is exceptional as it is one of only a few Greek Revival homes in the city that has fully developed classical orders. The corenrboards in this house are Greek Ionic pilasters and the entrance porch is supported by fluted Ionic columns. Other noteworthy feautres in the house are the bold treatment of the cornice and the matched horizontal boards within the roof's gable.
The earliest known owner of this house is Joseph T. Haskins who is noted on the 1851 Map of Newburyport. In the City Directory for that year Haskins is listed as living at 23 Strong Street. It is possible that he had just built or acquired this house.
Prior to 1872, this house was sold to Edward S. Toppan. In 1873, Toppan sold the property to Renton Perley. Perley was a wholesale liquor dealer with a busines at 75 Merrimac Street. Perley owned this dwelling until 1914 when it was conveyed to Blance Harriman, Caroline Smith, and Josephine Fernald.
Transcribed from:
http://www.newburyporthistoricdistrict.org/44%20Washington%20Street.pdf
Planning work on this building?
Reviews that may apply
Newburyport Historic District (National Register, listed 1984) · Demolition Control Overlay District (DCOD) · Parcel 49-49-A/F · Zone R2
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. 1850, 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 built 1830–1860
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.228
- Biff Bouse, Instagram post (@newburyportarchitecture), 2019-12-18
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 11 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)