- Built
- 1876 (documented)
- Style
- Italianate Italianate
- MACRIS
- NWB.2963 ↗
History
This building was constructed soon after the adjacent Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank building (MHC.362) was erected in 1873. It was built for George H. Plumer in 1876, to house his dry goods store (Herald, 5/17/1876). Plumer was born in Newburyport in 1847 and graduated from the Putnam School in 1864.
After his schooling, he entered the store of his father (Richard Plumer) and remained with him until 1872 when he began his own business at 46 State Street (MHC.2208). George Plumer continued to operate a dry goods store at 70 State Street until about 1920. The J.J. Newberry 5 & 10 cents store occupied the building from about 1940 until the 1960s.
Planning work on this building?
Reviews that may apply
Newburyport Historic District (National Register, listed 1984), contributing in the 1984 nomination · Downtown Overlay District (DOD) · Parcel 1-18 · Zone B2
Planning Board decides
Downtown, new construction, alteration or demolition of a historic building (individually listed or contributing in 1984) needs a DOD special permit, judged against the Secretary of the Interior's Standards; the Historical Commission sends an advisory report. Replacing windows, doors, signs, awnings or fences is reviewed by the Planning Office at staff level, with a window inventory; a new opening in a wall needs the Board. The demolition delay ordinance does not apply downtown except to work the Zoning Administrator excludes from DOD review.
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
2 items · maps, papers, old photographs
More built 1860–1900
Sources
- Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System, NWB.2963, NWB.362
- Biff Bouse, Instagram post (@newburyportarchitecture), 2021-12-05