Buswell, J.E., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1875 on Prospect Street in Methuen, this clapboard house is a fine local example of the French Second Empire style as seen in the Lower Merrimack Valley. Its sculptural facade is notable for tripartite projecting bays, whose segmental-arched windows are framed with carved and sawn ornament. A bracketed porch rests on panelled posts. The house was built as a single-family residence for a businessman who also served as a state representative, and it is now divided into two private residences. The only major alteration recorded is a blocked transom, and the building keeps its original location, design, setting, materials and workmanship. It was listed because it is regarded as the finest surviving Second Empire building in the town and because of its association with its original owner. It also typifies the residential character of the Prospect and Brook Street neighborhood, where it sits on a lot of about one acre or less.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest remaining example of Second Empire design in Methuen and a well-preserved residence of a businessman and state representative. It is also characteristic of the Prospect/Brook Street residential area. It is described as retaining integrity of location, design, setting, materials 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 84002317, listed January 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 535-537 Prospect St., Methuen |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | January 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002317 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is two private residences; originally a single-family residence. The only major alteration noted is a blocked transom. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.73113, -71.16155 (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 84002317.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6104063
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.