- Built
- c. 1800
- Style
- Federal Federal
- Neighborhood
- Merrimack Shipbuilding District
- MACRIS
- NWB.238 ↗
History
This house was built during the Federal period, as is evidenced by its three-story hipped roof form with decreasing window size in the upper stories. Unfortunately, the original doorway has been replaced, probably during the third quarter of the nineteenth century.
Today, the doorway has features of the Greek Revival style. The house is vernacular and indicative of the large number of Federal homes built in Newburyport during the early nineteenth century, regardless of style.
The original owner and builder of this house is not known. It was probably built by one of the men involved in the shipbuilding and trading that helped Newburyport’s economy prosper. In 1845, the house was purchased by Winthrop O. Evans from John Pilsbury. Evans was a shipbuilder, and his shipyard did the joining work for many vessels built on the banks of the Merrimack River in Newburyport’s North End.
This house was probably used as a boarding house for the employees of the Evans firm. The building remains a multiple-family dwelling today.
Planning work on this building?
Reviews that may apply
Newburyport Historic District (National Register, listed 1984) · Demolition Control Overlay District (DCOD) · Parcel 54-129-A/D · 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. 1800, 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 →
More built 1775–1830
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System - NWB.238