Chandler-Hidden House
Why it's listed
This 2½-story clapboard house at 17 Hidden Road in Andover was built around 1811-12 for Isaac Chandler, a farmer who lived on the property from his birth in 1754 until his death in 1832. It is said to have been built by his son-in-law David Hidden, a housewright who came to Andover from Newburyport to work on buildings at Andover Theological Seminary. The Federal-style house faces south and has a five-bay facade, side chimneys, and a center doorway with a pedimented portico, sidelights and fanlight. A rear ell and corner eaves brackets survive, and a side addition was made in the 20th century. Hidden bought the house in two halves, in 1828 and 1834. His children Mary and David I.C. Hidden inherited it, and the house left the family in 1897. Its significance rests on its connection with two local families, its link to a noted local builder, and its value as a vernacular Federal house.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its ties to two locally prominent families, the Chandlers and the Hiddens. It is also linked to, and possibly designed by, noted local builder David Hidden. It is a good example of vernacular Federal period architecture in Andover 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 82004832, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 17 Hidden Rd., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004832 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | David Hidden? (housewright, son-in-law of Isaac Chandler) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; a side addition was made in the 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.64117, -71.13306 (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 82004832.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5071135
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.