Frye, Samuel, House
Also known as: Samuel Frie House
Why it's listed
Built between about 1711 and 1719 on Turnpike Street in North Andover, this five-bay, 2 1/2 story clapboarded house is an example of transitional First Period construction. Its second-floor frame shows quirk beading and beveled chamfers, and the original two-room, lobby-entrance plan survives. Federal-period remodeling replaced the central chimney with low twin stacks, yet the old chimney space remains as a large closet or small room, which is an unusual survival. A lean-to was added soon after the original building, and a 19th century ell extends from the rear. The house is linked to Samuel Frye, who deeded a house, barn and land to his son Samuel Jr. in 1719. The Frye family built a saw and grist mill complex nearby in 1718, and the area became known as Frye's Village. The house stayed in the family until 1880. It was listed for the integrity of its frame and plan.
Significance in brief: The house keeps its transitional First Period frame and two-room, lobby-entrance floor plan despite Federal-period remodeling. Its original chimney space survives as a closet or small room, an unusual survival because most such chimneys were removed for a center stairhall. It is also tied to the locally important Frye family and the mill village that grew around their holdings.
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 90000252, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 920 Turnpike St., North Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000252 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Transitional First Period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in good condition, in residential use, and not moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.65711, -71.10335 (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 90000252.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7411435
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.