Methuen Water Works
Why it's listed
Built in 1893 on Cross Street in Methuen, this red brick waterworks was designed by Boston architect E. F. Boyden in the Romanesque Revival style. The building holds a 27 by 33 foot engine room and a 27 by 34 foot boiler room. Slate-covered conical and hip roofs, the latter topped by a shingled cupola, are well executed, and round-arched and rectangular windows have granite sills. The site near the junction of the Spicket River and Harris Pond Brook was chosen as the most favorable after a Water Board was established in 1893. E. Worthington, Jr. and Company of Boston surveyed the site and drove the wells, and a reservoir was built on Foster's Hill. Completing the system was a significant undertaking for the town, aided by donations from leading citizens including Daniel W. Tenney, E. J. Castle and Charles Mann. It remains in use as a waterworks and retains integrity of location, design, setting and workmanship.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a well-conserved late 19th century example of Romanesque Revival style, applied to a functional utility building. It also marks a major undertaking for the town, built after the 1893 establishment of a Water Board and supported by donations from leading citizens. The form says it meets criteria A and C.
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 84002403, listed January 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Cross St., Methuen |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | January 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002403 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | E. F. Boyden, Boston (architect) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a waterworks; a small addition was made at the rear. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.73976, -71.21414 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84002403.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6823909
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.