- Built
- c. 1890
- Style
- Italianate Italianate
- Neighborhood
- Victorian Residential District
- MACRIS
- NWB.200 ↗
- Formerly
- 57 Marlboro Street
History
This house is vernacular in style, combining elements of several of the Victorian styles popular during the final decades of the 19th century. The building’s form, of two and a half stories with a pitched roof, was used throughout the 19th century. The architectural ornament varied, of course, with the popular styles.
The entrance porch in this structure is inspired by the Italianate Victorian style. The bracketed cornice would be seen in either the Italianate or French Second Empire styles. The window lintels are another simple Victorian element inspired by the Italianate revivals.
The original owner of this property has not yet been documented. The house was built about 1890 and features elements of several late nineteenth-century Victorian styles. This house dates from the period when this area, between the earlier South End, Joppa, and High Street areas, was built up as a residential district. The homes in this area are, for the most part, single-family Victorian dwellings, and the residents were predominantly middle-class tradesmen or shoemakers.
The earliest known owner of this house was Mrs. Mary H. W. Carter, who lived here until she died in 1926, when the house was sold to Hazel H. Bickford.
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 28-41 · 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. 1890, 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
1 view · Biff Bouse
From the archive
1 item · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1860–1900
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System - NWB.200
- 1914 Sanborn map, sheet 28 (Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection)