- Built
- c. 1810
- Style
- Federal Federal
- Neighborhood
- South End District
- MACRIS
- NWB.113 ↗
- Formerly
- 44 and 44½ Lime Street
History
The Atwood house is a fine example of the Federal homes built by Newburyport’s wealthy mercantile class around the turn of the nineteenth century. The brick house is three stories tall, with a hipped roof and decreasing window sizes on the upper floors.
Exceptional architectural features include the arched doorways and the modillioned cornice. The front door is flanked by sidelights and surmounted by a semi-circular fanlight. Early photographs indicate that this house originally had a widow’s walk, which was rebuilt relatively recently.
The Atwood house was built by Robert Hale, who acquired the property on March 1, 1809. Hale was a bricklayer, and he spent the next year building the three-story brick house. In July 1810, Hale sold the house to Margaret Atwood, widow of Zachariah Atwood.
Mrs. Atwood was born in Newbury in 1754. In 1793, she was married to Zachariah Atwood. Atwood was a sea captain who had invested in several vessels. In 1796, Zachariah Atwood died. His wife continued to live in the house and invested heavily in real estate. By the time of her death in 1832, Mrs. Atwood owned several houses on High Street and a store and wharf, as well as the house on Lime Street. Mrs. Atwood was a strong supporter of many of Newburyport’s charities. She was a co-founder of the Newburyport Female Charitable Society. Mrs. Atwood willed this property to her son, who died before her. The house was sold, and her estate was bequeathed to the poor of the town of Newburyport.
The side street of this house, Atwood Street, was named after Margaret in 1856. It is one of the few streets in Newburyport to be named after a woman.
In 1833, the house was acquired by Captain Joseph P. Russell, a merchant and master mariner.
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 19-25 · 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. 1810, 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
4 views · Biff Bouse
From the archive
4 items · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1775–1830
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.113
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 24 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)