Harnden Farm
Why it's listed
Built around 1840 at 261 Salem Street in Andover, this farmhouse was constructed for Jesse Harnden (1811-81), a farmer who moved from Reading and bought the land in 1839. He prospered, and by 1881 the house was valued only slightly above the substantial barn that still stands. His son George inherited the property and lived there until his death in 1902, while also running a shoe factory in Lynn. The homestead left the family a few years later. The clapboard house rises two and a half stories under a gable roof, with pedimented gable ends, a five-bay facade, and a center portico with fluted columns and a roof balustrade. Its plan and proportions retain Federal-style influence, while the pedimented gables and the stylish barn mark it as Greek Revival. The property was listed for its transitional design, its barn, and its long link to Andover's farming history.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the house's late, transitional design, which keeps Federal-style plan, form and proportions alongside Greek Revival details, and its unusually stylish Greek Revival barn. The property also has long associations with Andover's agricultural history and retains 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 82004821, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 261 Salem St., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004821 |
| 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 original barn and a garage remain as outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.63117, -71.10851 (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 82004821.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5659701
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.