Jenkins, Benjamin, House
Why it's listed
Standing at the intersection of Salem Street and Jenkins Road in Andover, this two-story Federal house was probably built around 1807 by Col. Benjamin Jenkins, a gentleman farmer, on family land. It has a hip roof, a traditional center chimney, a five-bay clapboard facade, and a center doorway with slender pilasters and an entablature. Small original windows add to its early character. In its early years the house served as a stagecoach stop for travelers between Salem and Andover. In 1828 it became the first building insured by the Merrimack Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Later Jenkins family members lived here, including William S. Jenkins, a carpenter and later builder-contractor who added a large rear ell in 1849, and John B. Jenkins, a Civil War veteran and town selectman known for hospitality. The house was listed for its stagecoach history, its family associations, and its well-preserved Federal design.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites its early use as a stagecoach stop, its ties to the Jenkins family (including a noted local builder), and its substantial, well-preserved early Federal design. It was also the first building insured by the Merrimack Mutual Fire Insurance Company, in Policy No. 1 dated April 9, 1828.
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 82004818, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 362 Salem St., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004818 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Col. Benjamin Jenkins (thought to be the builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the house is described as excellently preserved, with an altered rear ell dating to about 1850. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.62334, -71.09361 (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 82004818.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4888876
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.