Hastings-Morse House
Why it's listed
This 2 1/2-story, five-bay house at 595 East Broadway in Haverhill sits on a secluded, 6.4-acre site of open fields and woods that slope toward the Merrimack River. It is thought to have been built in 1706 by the son of the owner of The Hastings Tavern and is mentioned in town records in 1710. The house probably began as a single-cell building with the right-hand rooms and chimney bay, and the left-hand rooms were added in the 18th century. Inside, the right-hand room keeps a chamfered summer beam with butt cogs for joists, much of the original chimney stack, and an enclosed three-run stair. The left-hand room has Second Period raised-field paneling and a corner cupboard with cable-fluted pilasters. A restoration in 1957 rebuilt part of the fireplace and extended the rear lean-to. The house was listed for its intact First Period frame, which records local framing practice.
Significance in brief: The house keeps its First Period frame, which shows distinctive characteristics of form and construction and is eligible under Criterion C. Its single-cell plan and decorated frame are representative of many First Period houses. It also adds to knowledge of First Period framing practices in the Haverhill area.
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 90000225, listed March 14, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 595 E. Broadway, Haverhill |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 14, 1991 |
| Reference number | 90000225 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; thought to have been built by the son of the owner of The Hastings Tavern in Haverhill |
| Architectural style | 1st Period core with 2nd Period vernacular exterior |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded as in good condition and in residential use; restored in 1957 (about 1960 in the form's other entries). |
| Acreage | 6.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.79752, -71.01737 (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 90000225.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5680234
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.