Choate, Rufus, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1787 for Salem merchant Ebenezer Beckford, this three-story Federal house at 14 Lynde Street has a hip roof, clapboard siding, a granite foundation, twin interior chimneys and a five-bay symmetrical facade. A gabled rear ell is original, while later one- and two-story additions extend northward. Between 1825 and 1834 it was the home of Rufus Choate, a lawyer, orator and politician who served in the Massachusetts legislature and the U.S. Congress, and later as U.S. Senator and Massachusetts Attorney General. In 1873 it was bought by William Drummer Northend, a noted criminal lawyer and historical writer, and his daughter Mary Northend, who amassed over 16,000 photographic negatives of historic houses, lived there most of her life. The house later served as a men's boarding house. A restoration in 1980-81 re-clapboarded the exterior, installed 6/6 sash and restored facade shutters, and the building now houses law offices. It represents Federal period middle-class housing in Salem.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its association with Rufus Choate (1799-1859), a lawyer, orator and politician who lived there from 1825 to 1834. It is also an excellent representation of Federal period middle-class housing in Salem. It meets criteria B and C.
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 82000481, listed November 12, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 14 Lynde St., Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | November 12, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82000481 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799, 1800-1899 (specific date 1787) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Law, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored 1980-81 and converted to law offices; listed as occupied, in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Downtown Salem District |
| Coordinates | 42.52250, -70.89625 (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 82000481.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7378018
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.