Abbot-Baker House
Why it's listed
Set on Argilla Road in Andover, this 2½-story clapboard farmhouse is thought to date from about 1685, when it was built for Thomas Abbot, a farmer and son of George Abbot, one of Andover's first settlers. Three generations of men named Thomas Abbot worked the homestead before the widow of the third sold it in 1797 to Symonds Baker, a physician. Baker's descendants still hold the farm. The house is notable for its simplicity: a broad five-bay south-facing facade with small unornamented windows and doorway, a center chimney, a gable roof with integral leanto, and a small gabled vestibule. A large attached barn, also with a leanto, and a carriage shed remain on the property. It was listed for its long link with the Abbot family, its association with a turn-of-the-19th-century country doctor, and its value as an excellent local example of First Period architecture, set within a largely intact estate.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the Abbot family, farmers prominent in the founding and growth of Andover, and to Symonds Baker, a physician who bought it in 1797. It is also described as an excellent example of First Period architecture in Andover, with 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 82004811, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5 Argilla Rd., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004811 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential, and the farm is still held by descendants of the Baker family (fourth generation). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.72717, -71.15647 (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 82004811.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4664186
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.