Dolan, Terence, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1900 at 478 Prospect Street in Methuen, this Georgian Revival house was the home of Terence Dolan, a mason and its original owner. Its most striking feature is a full two-story Ionic portico resting on a granite rubble foundation. The clapboard walls are topped by a steep hip roof with pedimented dormers, and the entry is framed by fluted pilasters. Purlins support the overhanging eaves, and a prominent dentil course marks the cornice of the portico. The house stands beside the Fair Oaks Addition, one of many Methuen subdivisions laid out around the turn of the twentieth century. Fair Oaks was known for large, high-styled houses and appealed to Lawrence commuters as well as local merchants and professionals. The property was listed for its architecture, as a good example of the period revival styles sought by residents of such subdivisions. It retains its original location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and has no recorded outbuildings or major alterations.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as an example of the period revival styles favored by residents of turn-of-the-century subdivisions such as Fair Oaks. It reflects the styles and materials of the large, high-styled houses in that area. The form states it retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship and meets criterion 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 84002323, listed January 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 478 Prospect St., Methuen |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | January 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002323 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a private residence, the same as its original use; no major alterations are recorded and it has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.72508, -71.15755 (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 84002323.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7701887
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.