House at 491 Prospect Street
Why it's listed
Built around 1900 on Prospect Street in Methuen, this three-story house is clad in shingles and is described as an outstanding local example of the Shingle Style. Its ornament is restrained, mainly garlanded friezes above a tripartite window. A Palladian window dominates the central gable, framed by square-cut shingles and a wooden keystone motif. A small shingled carriage house stands on the property. The house has not been moved, and no major alterations are recorded. It is still a private residence, as it was originally. Its significance also lies in what it represents: houses built for Lawrence and Methuen businessmen in Methuen subdivisions after the turn of the century. It stands in Fair Oaks, a subdivision developed by members of the J. D. McAllister family of Methuen. The property retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and was listed under criteria A and C.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as an outstanding example of the Shingle Style in Methuen. It also represents houses built for Lawrence and Methuen businessmen in Methuen subdivisions after the turn of the century. The Fair Oaks subdivision where it stands was developed by members of the J. D. McAllister family.
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 84002396, listed January 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 491 Prospect St., Methuen |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | January 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002396 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a private residence, the same as its original use; no major alterations are recorded. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.72749, -71.15874 (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 84002396.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914349
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.