Chickering House
Why it's listed
Built about 1830-35, this 2½-story clapboard house on Essex Street in Andover was the home of Jacob Chickering, a carpenter, housewright and designer. Chickering (1806-1887) apprenticed under Stephen Holt and later started a piano manufactory around 1856, though that business was only marginally successful. He is thought to have lived here until his 1835 marriage, after which he moved across the street and gave the house to his parents. The building has a gable roof, center chimney, five-bay facade, classical center entrance with sidelights, and a two-story gabled rear ell. Its most distinctive feature is the panelled corner blocks and center blocks around the windows, which show Chickering's attention to detail. Together with the doorway, six-over-six sash and cornice molding, which are holdovers from the Federal period, they make it an example of transitional styling. It was recognized for its association with Chickering, Andover's leading mid-19th-century architectural designer, and for its design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its design, construction and occupation by Jacob Chickering, Andover's leading architectural designer of the mid-19th century. It is also a strong example of transitional Federal-Greek Revival styling featuring Chickering's noted cornerblock motif. The property 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 82004831, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 28 Essex St., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004831 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Chickering |
| Architectural style | Federal-Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; a one-story side addition was made in the 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.65630, -71.14236 (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 82004831.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5096356
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.