- Built
- c. 1700
- Style
- Colonial Colonial
- Neighborhood
- High Street District
- MACRIS
- NWB.4 ↗
History
This house is one of the earlier homes on High Street. The interior of the house has been renovated on several occasions, and today the home resembles many 18th-century homes. The simple cornice and window surrounds are classically inspired. The windows are double hung and have twelve lights.
The present doorway and entrance porch are pedimented and supported by Doric columns. This feature was added in the twentieth century, replacing a door that had been Victorianized.
Although this house is often referred to as the Daniel Hale house, there is no evidence that it was owned by a Daniel Hale. According to the historian John J. Currier, there were two houses on the Southwesterly side of High Street in 1700. One was owned by John Weed, the other by Benjamin Coker. The house at 53 High Street is located on the lot of land owned by John Weed. Weed purchased the land with house and barn thereon in 1695. Whether this house was standing at the time of that transaction is uncertain.
John Weed was one of the men from Newbury equipped in 1705 to wage a winter campaign against the Indian enemy in the French and Indian War. At the time of John Weed’s death, the house was conveyed to his wife Sarah. She died in 1768 and left the house to the executor of her estate, Ezra Hale, in trust, to hold during his life, and then to Rev. John Tucker, or to his successor in the ministry in the First Parish of Newbury, for the use of a school for the poor children of the parish.
In 1789 the house was sold to Edmund Knight. By this time, it appears that the house had been divided and was being sold in portions of the front and rear lean-tos. In 1795 Knight sold his portion to Richard Pike. In 1799 the main house was sold to Philip Coombs. The Coombs family were merchants and shipbuilders. In 1803 Coombs acquired the rear portion of the house from Abigail Allen. In 1821 the entire property was sold to Capt. Micajah Lunt, a very wealthy shipowner and merchant. Lunt owned the property until 1836, when it was sold to David P. Page. Page was principal of the English High School. Subsequent 19th-century owners of the house were the Page heirs and Sarah M. Currier.
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 33-22 · 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. 1700, 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 built Before 1775
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.4