- Built
- c. 1860
- Style
- Greek Revival Greek Revival
- Neighborhood
- South End District
- MACRIS
- NWB.109 ↗
History
This building is a fine example of vernacular mid-nineteenth-century commercial architecture on a small scale. The two-story brick structure with a pitched roof has simple yet substantial architectural details. The cornice has a brick fascia, and brickwork creates a dentil molding above.
The granite lintels and foundation are reminiscent of the Greek Revival style, and the round window at the roof’s end is also noteworthy. Initially, there was a door on the side of the building. The front of the store would have had a door in the center with windows on either side.
Daniel G. Tilton was born in 1816 in Newbury. After clerking for 5 years, he went into the grocery business for himself in 1840, first on the corner of Federal and Middle Streets, where he stayed for 17 years. In 1857, he built a brick store on the corner of Federal and Spring Streets. Daniel stayed 41 years in that location. Altogether, he has been in the grocery business for 64 years. He sold the brick store to his son Daniel E. Titlon in 1896 for $2,000. His son sold the building to Harold Adams in 1918. When Daniel died in 1900, the headline in the newspaper said, “He Had Been in Honorable Trading for 64 Years in This City.”
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 16-28 · Zone R2
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. 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) ↗
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
5 items · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1830–1860
Sources
- * Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.109
- * "Newburyport City 3." George H. Walker & Company, Map. 1884.
- * “Veteran Grocer Dead,” Newburyport Daily News, Page 1. Tuesday, September 11, 1900.
- * "Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts." Sanborn Map Company, Maps. May, 1888. September, 1906.
- Biff Bouse, Instagram post (@newburyportarchitecture), 2025-03-28