Howe Barn
Why it's listed
Once an agricultural building, this barn at 403 Linebrook Road in Ipswich now serves as a house. Its oak frame dates to the first half of the 18th century and, by tradition, was raised by Abraham Howe soon after he built a house on the property in 1711. Howe was a weaver, slaughterer, carpenter and recorder of evidence for his neighbors. The barn was converted to a residence in 1948 and given Colonial Revival finishes, yet it keeps the profile of the original structure. Four bays long, two and one half stories high and two rooms deep, it has a shingled exterior and a one-story porch as its only addition. The frame survives in the attic and in places downstairs, with principal rafters, purlins and slightly cambered tie beams. It is one of four known First Period barn frames in Essex County, and its construction closely resembles the Stanley-Lake barn in Topsfield. Conversion to a house may explain its survival.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building keeps an intact First Period oak barn frame, one of four known to survive in Essex County. Its framing is nearly identical to that of the Stanley-Lake barn in Topsfield, which may help identify regional framing variations. It also supports the early 18th century date given in local histories.
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 90000230, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 403 Linebrook Rd., Ipswich |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000230 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Abraham Howe (according to tradition) |
| Architectural style | First Period / Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed on the inventory form as residence / vacant, in good condition; converted from barn to house around 1948. |
| Acreage | 2.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.67738, -70.93488 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 90000230.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5921518
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.