Dyke-Wheeler House
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Annisquam River from a high bank on Wheeler Street in Gloucester, this house has a First Period plank frame dating to about 1720. It is five bays wide and two and a half stories tall, with a central chimney at the ridge, clapboards on the front and shingles elsewhere. A lean-to was added around 1800, and an early twentieth-century wing sits at the rear. Its importance lies in the frame. The right-hand chamber combines flat chamfers and quirk beading; the rear plate begins with a flat chamfer that turns into a quirked bead partway along. The frame also holds the only quirk-beaded brace known in the study area and a rare ship's knee brace at the chimney. All four original rooms have raised-field paneling and trim from the mid-eighteenth century. It is one of several dozen plank-frame structures in the area, with a notable concentration on Cape Ann.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house keeps integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship in its First Period plank frame, making it eligible under Criterion C. It is one of several dozen plank-frame structures in the study area and part of a concentration on Cape Ann. Its frame mixes flat chamfers with quirk beading and includes the only quirk-beaded brace known in the study area and a rare ship's knee brace.
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 90000215, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 144 Wheeler St., Gloucester |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000215 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period core |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded as in good condition and used as a residence; the front portico was replaced and enclosed and a rear dormer raised in 1962. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.64348, -70.68036 (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 90000215.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5318656
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.