Abbot, Asa and Sylvester, House
Why it's listed
Set on a lot of more than one acre with about 375 feet of frontage, this two-and-a-half-story clapboard house at 15-17 Porter Road in Andover was built around 1830-40 by farmer Asa Abbott (1770-1851). He was the fifth generation of his family on the farm site and was active in town affairs. He probably built the house after his father's death in 1826. It was planned as a duplex: Asa left the east half to his son Asa Albert Abbott and the west half to his son Sylvester, and the brothers kept farming the land, which stayed in the family until about 1900. The Greek Revival design has a gable roof, two centered chimneys, a six-bay facade, recessed classical doorways with sidelights at opposite ends, and windows with plain cornerblocks described as distinctively Andover. Original one and one-and-a-half story ells remain. The house is valued as an uncommon rural duplex and for its link to southern Andover's farming past.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an uncommon rural example of the duplex house type, with an attractive Greek Revival design and delicate window articulation. It is also tied to the agricultural history of southern Andover. The property is said to retain integrity of design, materials, workmanship and setting.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82004833, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 15-17 Andover Rd., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004833 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Asa Abbott (original owner and builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the form lists the house as divided into two residences (15 and 17 Porter Road). |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.63942, -71.13507 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82004833.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4803184
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.