Babson-Alling House
Why it's listed
Built around 1740 on Gloucester's original Town Green, this gambrel-roofed Georgian house stands at 245 Washington Street beside a traffic rotary. It has a massive central chimney, a bold modillion cornice, clapboard siding and a granite foundation, plus an early east wing with a half-depth form known as a Beverly jog. Federal-period fanlight entries and a 1930s Colonial Revival portico reflect later changes. A barn, granite retaining wall, gazebo, stone walls and mature trees complete the property, which shares its setting with the relocated White-Ellery House. The house is tied to Gloucester's maritime trade. It is attributed to Joseph Allen or his son William, both traders, and later owners included Boston merchant Isaac Smith, merchant John Low Jr., and Captain Nathaniel Babson. It was listed for its architecture and its link to settlement and maritime commerce, with a period of significance from about 1740 to 1945.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of Gloucester's finest examples of mid-Georgian architecture. It is also associated with leading local merchants and their families and illustrates changes in Gloucester's maritime industry over about 250 years. It retains integrity of location, design, materials, setting and workmanship.
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 96000472, listed April 26, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 245 Washington St., Gloucester |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | April 26, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000472 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1740-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (construction generally attributed to either Joseph Allen or his son William Allen, ca. 1740) |
| Architectural style | COLONIAL: Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently in use as a single residence; the entry portico base is described as deteriorated. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.62245, -70.67772 (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 96000472.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4838026
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.