Perkins, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Set in a rural corner of northeastern Methuen, Massachusetts, this clapboard house at 297 Howe Street is a Greek Revival cottage dated by visual analysis to about 1840, though the local historical commission gives an earlier date of 1782. It may have grown out of an 18th-century dwelling. The five-bay facade has a central entry, a prominent cornice and pilaster strips at the corners. The doorway has a broad entablature carried by pilasters, and the original sidelights have been blocked. The building rests on a cut-granite foundation. Its significance lies in how it reflects the styles and house types built along Methuen's early roads during its first two centuries of settlement. Residents of such houses were usually farmers supplying produce to Salem, Newburyport, Lowell and Lawrence, or shoe and hat makers. Joseph Perkins, a 19th-century owner, was a farmer. The house retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and was listed for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is an excellent example of a Greek Revival cottage that may have evolved from an 18th-century dwelling. It illustrates the development of architectural styles and residential building types along Methuen's early road network. It is judged to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship.
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 84002416, listed January 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 297 Howe St., Methuen |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | January 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002416 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is as a private residence, the same as its original use. The sidelights at the entry have been blocked. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.76126, -71.16846 (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 84002416.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6286184
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.