Johnson House
Why it's listed
Built around 1830 at 8 Ditson Place in Methuen, this Federal-style house stands on a tree-lined residential street near the town center. It is a rectangular, hipped-roof dwelling with end chimneys, a five-bay facade and a central entry. The clapboard walls rest on a granite foundation, and the original 6/6 double-hung windows survive, framed by simple moldings and peaked lintels. A projecting bay with a bracketed cornice was added about 1870. The most distinctive feature is the elaborate entry portico, which has a quatre-foil motif in a running frieze band and quatre-foils set into the porch soffit. The nomination describes it as one of the most elaborate and best-preserved Federal period houses in Methuen. It was listed for architectural significance, as a well-preserved example of the town's high-style early 19th century building. The house keeps its integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and it remains a private residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the house is a well-preserved example of Methuen's high-style early 19th century architecture. It was probably considered one of the town's outstanding buildings when built. It retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship.
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 84002398, listed January 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 8 Ditson Pl., Methuen |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | January 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002398 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a private residence, the same as its original use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.72733, -71.18634 (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 84002398.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715645
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.