Gould, Capt. Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Capt. Joseph Gould House, at 129 Washington Street in Topsfield, is a six-bay, two-room-deep, two-and-one-half-story clapboarded dwelling. Its original section, the three easternmost bays, predates 1700. Three bays were added to the west in the early 18th century. The house was listed because its two First Period frames show distinctive construction. It appears to be the only house of its kind in the survey area built two rooms deep and two stories high from the outset, whereas other First Period buildings were generally altered later to reach that plan. Exposed framing includes transverse summer beams with flat chamfers and lamb's tongue stops, molded story posts, and a roof framed with principal rafters, purlins and collar beams. The western section has a staircase whose single lower run divides into two upper runs. The eastern section keeps simple Federal style trim. A c. 1700 barn once on the property was dismantled and stored in 1983, and a nineteenth century barn remains.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house keeps its integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship in two First Period frames, and meets Criterion C for distinctive design and construction. It is apparently the only surveyed example of a First Period house built two rooms deep and two stories high from the start. Other First Period buildings were usually altered later to reach that plan.
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 90000259, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 129 Washington St., Topsfield |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000259 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period core with Second Period addition; vernacular exterior |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as good, and the building is a residence, its original use as well. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.64180, -70.96683 (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 90000259.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5036448
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.