Pearson, Abiel, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1807 at 33 High Street in Andover, this Federal-style house was the home and medical office of Dr. Abiel Pearson (1756-1827), a Dartmouth graduate who began practicing in South Parish in 1787. After his death, the property was sold in 1829 to merchant and manufacturer Benjamin Punchard, who moved the house from the junction of Main and High Streets to its present site in the mid-1840s. It was later converted to a duplex and rented, then sold to trader John Harding in 1852. The two-story clapboard house has a nearly flat hip roof hidden behind a prominent sawn balustrade, a five-bay facade with 6/6 windows, and a pedimented center vestibule with classical trim. A two-story rear ell and side chimneys complete the plain, boxy form. It is recognized for its architecture, its physician owner, and its role in the development of downtown Andover.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant as the home of an early 19th century physician, for its link to the physical development of downtown Andover, and as a fine example of Federal period architecture in the town. It meets Criteria A, B and C and retains integrity of design, materials, workmanship and setting.
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 82004807, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 33 High St., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004807 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; a small barn is listed as an outbuilding. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 42.66011, -71.14078 (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 82004807.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4667627
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.