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Photo: Biff Bouse

Willow Avenue · No. 5 · NWB.2528

5 Willow Avenue

James C. Colman House

Built 1860–1900National Register district
Built
c. 1872
Style
Victorian Victorian Eclectic
MACRIS
NWB.2528 ↗

History

5 Willow Avenue is a modest, front-gabled, wood-frame dwelling constructed circa 1872. The most notable ornamentation appears at the gable end, where a continuous vergeboard incorporates a series of cut-out curves and pointed motifs, reflecting the picturesque detailing associated with late-19th-century Victorian Eclectic design.

A small gable-end window with shutters anchors the uppermost bay, visually integrating the decorative trim with the façade composition.

The house rests on a brick foundation and is set close to the street, typical of its period and neighborhood. The structure retains the essential massing, materials, and stylistic elements that characterize its original construction period.

Historical Narrative

Willow Avenue was formally laid out by municipal vote in December 1871, and development followed shortly thereafter. In May 1872, a house on Willow Avenue, described as “lot numbered nine,” was conveyed by a group of owners, including Henry W. Moulton, William Thurston, James C. Colman, and N.A. Moulton, John N. Pike, and William C. Binney. The conveyance included “a house situated upon Willow Avenue” subject to a $500 mortgage, indicating that the structure was complete or nearing completion at that time.

By June 1874, the property was held by James C. Colman, who conveyed it, with “the cottage house and other improvements,” to Carrie M. Woodman, wife of William W. Woodman. The Woodman family is documented at “2 Willow Avenue” in the 1880 Census, suggesting early and consistent occupancy along the newly-established street. The Newburyport Daily Herald recorded the death of the Woodmans’ infant son, Willie W. Woodman, on August 23, 1879.

Ownership passed in 1884 to John J. McDonald and in 1892 to John J. and William Woods, beginning a long period of Woods family tenure. Multiple deeds in 1902 and 1915 reflect intra-family transfers among members of the Woods family, including John J. Woods, Jr., Anne K. Woods, William H. Woods, Edward P. Woods, and others. Dr. Edward Patrick Woods, a dentist, resided here until his death in December 1920, when his funeral was held at the house and attended by numerous civic and fraternal organizations.

The property remained in the Woods family’s ownership until 1941, when Esther E. Woods conveyed it to Frederick and Elizabeth Maguire. During World War II, Private Frederick Maguire, a resident of this address, entered the U.S. Army in early 1944 and was stationed at Camp Blanding, Florida. In 1947, the Maguires sold the house to Joseph B. and Charlotte D. Harvey. A 1950 Newburyport Daily News article notes the birth of their son, Joseph Paul Harvey, described as the city’s Fourth of July baby that year.

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 62-28 · 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. 1872, 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 1860–1900

22-24 Allen Street, Newburyport01 / 03 · c. 1870 · Built 1860–190022-24 Allen Street30 Ashland Street, Newburyport02 / 03 · c. 1870–1890 · Built 1860–190030 Ashland Street32 Ashland Street, Newburyport03 / 03 · c. 1875 · Built 1860–190032 Ashland Street

Sources

  1. Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.2528
  2. “Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts.” Sanborn Map Company, Map. 1914.
  3. “Assessors’ Plans,” City of Newburyport, Map. 1924.
  4. Reverse Deed Search:
  5. 9/14/2000 - 16561 191 - Timothy M. Conway and Karen Smith Conway to Michael J. O’Donnell and Susan M. O’Donnell
  6. 12/11/1992 - 11647 83 - Edward N. Spicer and Claudette M. Spicer to Timothy M. Conway and Karen Smith Conway
  7. 12/4/1962 - 5020 586 - Robert P. Grenier and Evelyn R. Grenier to Edward N. Spicer and Claudette M. Spicer
  8. 6/2/1954 - 4072 490 - Joseph B. Harvey and Clarlotte D. Harvey to Robert P. Grenier and Evelyn R. Grenier
  9. 3/7/1947 - 3510 378 - Frederick Maguire and Elizabeth B. Maguire to Joseph B. Harvey and Charlotte D. Harvey
  10. 10/3/1941 - 3273 162 - Ester E. Woods to Frederick Maguire and Elizabeth B. Maguire
  11. 5/14/1921 - 2483 493 - Sarah A. Shute (formerly Sarah A. Woods) to Esther E. Woods
  12. 2/5/1921 - 2475 472 - Sarah A. Woods, Guardian of Sadie A. Woods, William S. Woods, and Edward R. Woods to Esther E. Woods
  13. 2/12/1921 - 2474 598 - Sarah J. Woods, widow of William H. Woods to Esther E. Woods
  14. 2/3/1915 - 2288 88 - John J. Woods, John J. Woods, Jr., Esther E. Woods, Mary G. Woods, Jane R. Woods, Teresea M. Scannell, A. Elizabeth McNamee, and William S. Woods to Esther E. Woods, William H. Woods, and Edward P. Woods
  15. 5/10/1902 - 1673 186 - John J. Woods, Jr., to Anne K. Woods
  16. 5/10/1902 - 1673 185 - John J. Woods to John J. Woods, Jr.
  17. 1/23/1892 - 1334 104 - John J. McDonald to John J and William Woods
  18. 7/31/1884 - 1134 86 - Carrie M. Woodman, wife of William W. Woodman to John J. McDonald
  19. 7/12/1875 - 934 180 - William Thurston, James C. Colman, N(?). A. Moulton, and John N. Pike to Carrie M. Woodman, wife of William W. Woodman to John J. McDonald
  20. 6/4/1874 - 908 285 - James C. Colman to Carrie M. Woodman (with the Cottage house and other improvements)
  21. 5/10/1872 - 853 240 - Henry W. Moulton William Thurston, James C. Colman N.A. Moulton, John N. Pike, and William C. Binney(?) ( ... also a house situated upon Willow Avenue, so called, and the house lot enclosed within a fence and illustrated and described upon a plan recorded in Essex Registry of Deeds, Book 668, leaf 221: being lot numbered nine upon said plan. The above house and lot, being subject to a mortgage of five hundred dollars to Jacob A. Batch of said Newburyport, together with all buildings upon said lot no. nine ... )
  22. 1864 - 668 221 - Lot 9 on plan of Henry W. Moulton