Newman-Fiske-Dodge House
Why it's listed
Located at 162 Cherry Street in Wenham, this clapboarded house began as a single-room dwelling possibly as early as 1658 and grew to a two-room plan in 1695/6. It is five bays wide and two and a half stories tall, with a steep roof, a rebuilt central chimney, a Greek Revival doorway, a lean-to and later side wings. Inside, a c. 1658 summer beam with quarter-round chamfers and lamb's tongue stops is a good example of a relatively rare type. Evidence of a raised chimney girt shows how the builders handled the enlargement. Original 17th century finish survives behind later paneling, and the staircase with short turned balusters is an early use of Renaissance-inspired form. Rev. Antipas Newman, Wenham's second minister, owned the land from 1658 to 1672 and may have built the house. William Fiske Jr. owned it by 1695/6. A barn with 18th century framing also contributes to the property.
Significance in brief: The house keeps First Period features that show distinctive early construction, including a c. 1658 summer beam with quarter-round chamfer and lamb's tongue stop. It also preserves original 17th century finish behind later wall covering and an early staircase with Renaissance-inspired balusters. The raised chimney girt shows how carpenters handled enlargements from one room to two.
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 90000267, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 162 Cherry St., Wenham |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000267 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | 1st Period core with 2nd Period vernacular exterior; Greek Revival frontispiece |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; present use is residence, as it was originally. |
| Acreage | 2.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.60361, -70.91443 (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 90000267.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715771
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.