- Built
- c. 1798
- Style
- Second Empire Second Empire
- Neighborhood
- High Street District
- MACRIS
- NWB.2856 ↗
History
Philip Coombs and Ann Jewett Morse were wed in Newburyport on June 3, 1806. Ann died in 1848, aged 66, and Philip died in 1853, aged 70.
The earliest settlement in Newburyport was in 1635 on the Parker River at Newbury. Over the next hundred years, the settlement grew, primarily into an agricultural settlement. At that time, however, a settlement also grew on the banks of the Merrimack River. In 1764, the residents of “the waterside” successfully petitioned to have a section of Newbury, with interests relating to the sea, set off as the town of Newburyport.
Newburyport prospered in the following decades. At the peak of prosperity, resulting from extensive West India trade and other commerce, Newburyport’s wealthy mercantile class began to build their large homes, almost country estates, along High Street. This broad highway had been laid out along a glacial ridge as early as 1645. Soon, though there were earlier homes along this road, Federal-period homes primarily gave High Street its character.
Architecturally, High Street is the finest residential street in Newburyport. The Federal architecture that dominates this streetscape has remained relatively unchanged since the early nineteenth century. Many Federal-period homes have large front lawns and formal gardens behind them. The character of much of the High Street area is that of country estates set upon a ridge above the city’s core. Many later nineteenth-century homes built on the High Street are high-style examples of the Italianate or Second Empire mode. These, too, help to create the grandiose scale of High Street.
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 33-21 · Zone HSRA
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. 1798, 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 →
More photos
5 views · Biff Bouse
Details
1 close-up
From the archive
3 items · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1775–1830
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System - NWB.2856, NWB.A