Dascomb House
Why it's listed
Built around 1760 at 125 Dascomb Road in Andover, this clapboard house was constructed by Jacob Johnson, a blacksmith who kept his shop on the property after marrying in 1758. It is a 2½-story Georgian building with a gable roof, center chimney, five-bay facade and center entrance. Around 1830-36 a Greek Revival renovation added corner blocks at the windows and a modest entry vestibule with sidelights. The house passed to Johnson's son and grandson, both named Osgood, the younger of whom became headmaster of Phillips Academy. In 1832 it went to Jacob Dascomb, a deacon of the West Parish Church, who sold it in 1852 after financial losses. Later owners included sea captain Llewellyn Murch, who added a piazza that has since been removed. The house was listed for its connection to the early growth of southern Andover, its ties to educational and religious figures, and its well-preserved mid-Georgian design with later additions.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites its role in the early development of southern Andover and its links to locally prominent educational and religious figures. It is also presented as an important example of mid-Georgian architecture with later additions. It retains integrity of design, materials, workmanship and setting, and meets Criteria A 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 82004826, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 125 Dascomb Rd., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004826 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Johnson (original owner and builder) |
| Architectural style | Georgian, with Greek Revival renovation ca. 1830-36 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential, the same as its original use. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.62767, -71.17552 (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 82004826.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715447
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.