Peabody School
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 on Salem Street in the Bradford section of Haverhill, this red brick schoolhouse was designed by local architect C. Willis Damon in a restrained Victorian Romanesque style. It has a slate hipped roof, a projecting central gable, granite sills and lintels, and two arched entry porches that served as separate entrances for boys and girls. The north wall uses a steel frame to allow large windows, bringing indirect north light into the classrooms. Ventilation, heating and open-air clothing racks reflected the School Committee's concern for sanitation and health. Bradford, a prosperous residential town for Haverhill's shoe manufacturers, named the school for one of its oldest families, who supplied the land. It was the last school the town built before annexation by Haverhill in 1897. The school operated until 1981 and has since been rehabilitated for residential use. It is listed for its educational and architectural importance and its role in the community's development.
Significance in brief: The school is tied to the growth of Bradford as a prosperous residential community for Haverhill shoe manufacturers in the late 19th century. Its Romanesque Revival design reflects period educational thinking about health, light, ventilation and sanitation. It was the last school Bradford built before being annexed by Haverhill in 1897.
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 86002900, listed October 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 170 Salem St., Haverhill |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | October 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002900 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | C. Willis Damon |
| Architectural style | Victorian Romanesque / Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a school in June 1981 and described as vacant since then in the significance statement; the description section says it has been rehabilitated and now serves as residential space. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.76353, -71.07029 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 86002900.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715809
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.