Osgood Farm
Why it's listed
Osgood Farm, at 116 Osgood Street in Andover, is a two-story clapboard house traditionally dated to about 1700, linked to the 1699 marriage of Stephen Osgood and Hannah Blanchard, which joined two prominent West Andover families. It began as a four-room house around a central chimney. Isaac Osgood, a captain in the French and Indian War, is thought to have added the eastern section and the northeast wing. Later features include hipped and gable roofs, an asymmetrical four-bay facade, prominent window cornices uncommon in Andover, and a pedimented doorway. Jacob Osgood, a respected farmer, served in the Revolutionary War and hosted the patriot lawyer James Otis, who recovered from a head injury at the farm and was killed there by lightning in 1783. The Osgoods lived in the house until 1849. Wadley Noyes later kept an inn and tavern there from 1853 to 1863. The house was listed for its role in western Andover's development, the Otis connection, and its layered Georgian-era architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for its association with the development of western Andover and for its ties to Revolutionary War figure James Otis. It is also an example of architectural evolution over several centuries, with Georgian details most notable. It is said to meet Criteria A, B 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 82004806, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 116 Osgood St., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004806 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; it served as a tavern from 1853 to 1863. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.63672, -71.19194 (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 82004806.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7106539
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.