Barnard Block
Why it's listed
Built in 1910 at 10-16 Main Street in Andover, the Barnard Block is a two-story brick commercial building with a flat roof and a bracketed cornice topped by a parapet. Its facade features a center pediment, fluted Ionic pilasters, granite quoins at the corners and bays, and Palladian windows with polychrome lintels. The ground-floor storefront was altered in the late twentieth century, but the upper stories remain largely intact. Henry W. Barnard erected the building. He ran J.W. Barnard & Son, a shoe manufacturing business started by his father, Jacob, around 1855 that employed about 200 people before closing in 1931. The family's profits went into real estate, and Jacob Barnard was at one time Andover's largest property owner. This block is one of three conspicuous Barnard-owned commercial buildings on Main Street. It was recognized as the downtown's best example of early twentieth century design and for its link to the growth of the business district.
Significance in brief: The form calls it the downtown's best example of early 20th century design, notable for its Neo-Classic styling and polychrome trim. It is also tied to the growth of the central business district and to the Barnard family, whose shoe manufacturing fortune funded major real estate holdings. The building 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 82004803, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 10-16 Main St., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004803 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Henry W. Barnard (builder/owner); architect not named |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is commercial; the first-floor storefront was altered in the late 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.65634, -71.13998 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 82004803.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4861414
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.