Harding, Sarah H., House
Why it's listed
Built between 1842 and 1846, this 2½-story duplex at 6-8 Harding Street in Andover was erected for Sarah H. Harding, a single woman who had bought the land from her mother in 1842. By 1846 she sold half of the house to Hannah Barker, a widow. The nomination reads the design as a response to a new need for housing for single women of modest means. The street, laid out in 1826, was named for the Harding family, who owned land nearby and shared in the local paper mill. The house is Greek Revival, with flushboard facade, a six-bay front, paired classical entrances with glazed sidelights and transom, and pedimented window lintels. The builder used new details confidently but kept a traditional plan and was less sure of window trim proportions. Its social role, uncommon duplex form and design quality led to its listing. A late 20th-century rear addition and aluminum siding are noted.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant as housing for unmarried women of modest means, for its uncommon duplex form, and for its high-quality Greek Revival design. It is described as an unusually fine example of the style in Andover. It is said to meet Criteria A and C and to retain integrity of design, materials, workmanship and setting.
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 82004822, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6-8 Harding St., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004822 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential, the same as its original use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.66675, -70.92442 (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 82004822.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7422359
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.