Emerson, Capt. Oliver, Homestead
Why it's listed
Captain Oliver Emerson's homestead at 133 North Street in Methuen is a 2½-story farmhouse dating from about 1775. It has a five-bay clapboard facade with a central entry, a granite rubble foundation and an intact central chimney mass that contributes to its 18th-century appearance. Second-story windows keep their 6/6 double-hung sash, while the 9/9 sash on the first floor may be restorations. The entry door dates from about 1860 and has double-round arched lights. The house sits on about 1.6 acres in a rural part of northeast Methuen and has a one-story wood-frame garage. It was listed because it is a well preserved dwelling on one of the town's early roads, because of its link to Oliver Emerson, a locally prominent Revolutionary War captain, and because it represents Methuen's early development before 1850, when the population was scattered along country roads. It remains a private residence, with no major alterations recorded.
Significance in brief: The house is a well preserved dwelling along one of Methuen's early roads. It is linked to Oliver Emerson, a locally prominent Revolutionary War captain. It also reflects Methuen's early development before 1850, when most residents lived along a network of country roads.
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 84002347, listed January 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 133 North St., Methuen |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | January 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002347 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a private residence, the same as its original use. The form lists no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.77743, -71.18003 (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 84002347.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5036462
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.