Chandler-Bigsby-Abbot House
Why it's listed
Located at 88 Lowell Street in Andover, this two-story clapboard house dates to about 1670-73 and is among the oldest buildings still standing in the town. It began as a four-room, lean-to dwelling built for Daniel and Hannah Chandler Bigsby, and it was standing by 1688. Later changes include an 18th-century rear ell, hipped roofs, a pedimented center vestibule and a Georgian renovation, yet the southern orientation and broad facades with small, narrow windows still point to its age. The property operated as a farm until the late 19th century and passed through the Bigsby and Abbot families, including Capt. Jeduthan Abbot, who held 91 acres in 1798. It was sold to the Ward family in 1879, and the Wards lived there until 1944. It was listed for its First Period architecture and for its links to locally prominent families.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent example of First Period architecture in Andover and is associated with several locally prominent families, chiefly the Chandlers, Bigsbys and Abbots. It is described as one of the oldest houses standing in Andover. The form states it meets Criteria A and C and retains 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 82004830, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 88 Lowell St., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004830 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period (altered by Georgian renovation in the late 18th century) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; a garage stands as an outbuilding. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.66639, -71.15650 (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 82004830.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5071130
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.