Calef, Dr. John, House
Why it's listed
Standing at 7 Poplar Street in Ipswich, this 2½-story clapboard house has an end-gable roof and a central chimney. Its core and timber frame date to the 17th century, and it is thought to have been built around 1671 by Deacon Thomas Knowlton, who bought three-quarters of an acre on South Main Street from Goodman Younglove. John Heard acquired the house in 1777 and moved it to land he owned on Poplar Street, then built a Federal period mansion on the old site in 1795. Its present look comes from mid-18th-century changes, including exterior trim and sash work around 1775. The five-bay symmetrical facade centers on an entry framed by pilasters, a projecting entablature and a rectangular transom, under a cornice supported by carved modillions. Dr. John Calef, a noted Tory who appeared in Paul Revere's broadside "A Warm Place Hell," lived here before Heard bought it. The house is valued as a representative First Period dwelling with high quality Second Period alterations.
Significance in brief: The form calls it a representative First Period house with high quality Second Period alterations. The core and timber frame are 17th century, while the present appearance dates to the mid-18th century. It is also tied to Dr. John Calef, a noted Tory, and to John Heard, who moved it.
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 80000447, listed September 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 7 Poplar St., Ipswich |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | September 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000447 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period with Second Period exterior alterations |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; a garage is listed as an outbuilding. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.67606, -70.83416 (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 80000447.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5304190
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.