Abbot-Stinson House
Why it's listed
This two and a half story, five bay house on Stinson Road in Andover has a central chimney, a clapboarded facade and a projecting one story Federal style lobby entrance. It is traditionally dated to about 1720-1726. The west side, probably once the kitchen and kitchen chamber, keeps exposed summer and tie beams, posts, girts and plates with quirked bead moulding, and the second floor has flared gunstock corner posts. These details resemble those of the Parson Barnard House in North Andover and other early 18th century Andover houses. The slightly larger east rooms have plastered ceilings, boxed framing and raised panelling, reflecting the Georgian finish that replaced exposed framing. A closed string, triple-run staircase stands in front of the chimney. The house is considered significant as an excellent example of this transition from First Period to vernacular Georgian interiors. Later changes include a one-story rear ell from the 1940s, a modern garage, and an old stone wall along Stinson Road.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as an excellent example of the transition from First Period exposed, decorated framing to the vernacular Georgian interior finish of the second quarter of the 18th century. Its quirk-beaded frame on the west side resembles that of the Parson Barnard House in North Andover and other early 18th century Andover houses. It meets Criterion C.
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 90000190, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6 Stinson Rd., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000190 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period/Transitional |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; in residential use. A rear ell was added in the 1940s and the kitchen and west chamber were remodelled. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.63750, -71.12171 (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 90000190.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4664189
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.