Burnham, David, House
Also known as: Lakeside Farm
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built between 1680 and 1690 on Pond Street in a wooded part of Essex, Massachusetts, this clapboarded house has five bays, a center chimney and a rear lean-to added in the early 18th century. It sits on 2.5 acres near a salt marsh and Lake Chebacco, with an apple orchard still in front. Inside, the oak roof framing, chamfered summer beams with lamb's tongue stops, large fireplaces and early wrought nails survive. George Francis Dow of the Essex Institute directed a well-documented restoration in 1924, and later wings, a barn and garages were added in the 1920s to suit modern living. The house was listed for its architectural value as a largely intact First Period dwelling and for its restoration record. It is also linked to the Burnham family, early settlers of Chebacco, who likely used the site for a sawmill and gristmill and held the house until 1869.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an exceptionally well-preserved First Period dwelling that keeps its original setting, massive structural system, roofline, high ceilings and floor plans. It also has an unusually detailed record of a 1924 restoration led by George Francis Dow. It is further tied to the early and prominent Burnham family of Essex (originally Chebacco), who owned it for about 189 years.
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 83000574, listed July 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Pond St., Essex |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | July 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000574 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1600-1699 |
| Architectural style | First Period (late 17th century) center-chimney dwelling |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition, on its original site and altered; used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.61598, -70.80154 (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 83000574.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5231926
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.