- Built
- c. 1820
- Style
- Federal Federal
- Neighborhood
- Joppa District · Victorian Residential District
- MACRIS
- NWB.195 ↗
- Formerly
- 45½ Bromfield Street
History
This is one of the earlier houses in a primarily mid- and late-nineteenth-century residential area. The house is a good example of the Federal-style houses built throughout Newburyport at the turn of the nineteenth century. The house is three stories in height with a hipped roof and decreasing window size on the upper floors. The cornice is simple yet classically inspired.
William Bartlet, Esquire, Merchant, appears to be the original owner and builder of this structure. Historical maps of Newburyport indicate that the property owners were J. Poor and J. Woodman in 1851, and the estate of M. Woodman in 1871. The city directories do not list these owners, which suggests that the property was likely owned as an investment. During the late nineteenth century, owners included Mary Silloway and Charles H. Hale. Hale was a carpenter living on Allen Street, and he probably also rented this house to others.
Planning work on this building?
Reviews that may apply
Newburyport Historic District (National Register, listed 1984) · Demolition Control Overlay District (DCOD) · Parcel 25-58-A/B · Zone R2
Zoning Board of Appeals may decide
In the DCOD. Whether removing more than 25% of the exterior walls needs a DCOD special permit depends on the building’s status in the 1984 National Register nomination, which this site has not matched for this lot yet; the Office of Planning and Development keeps the list.
Newburyport Historical Commission decides whether to impose a delay
Built c. 1820, 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. 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
1 item · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1775–1830
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.195
- Biff Bouse, Instagram post (@newburyportarchitecture), 2025-10-16
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 26 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)