Proctor, John, House
Why it's listed
Located at 348 Lowell Street in Peabody, this five-bay, 2 1/2 story shingled house with a tall central chimney is dated to about 1700 and classed as late First Period. It likely began as a single room, now the front west room, with an east room added in the First Period and rear wings added in the 18th century. A late 19th century porch and a 20th century garage were added later. Surviving features include chamfered summer beams with lamb's tongue stops, an original rear girt with empty stud mortises, and the only unrestored fireplace in the house. Tradition dates the house to the 1650s, when John Proctor, hanged in the 1692 Salem witch trials, rented the land from Emmanuel Downing. The style of the chamfers suggests his son Thorndike Proctor built the present structure after buying the property around 1700. The Proctor family held it until 1851. The house is significant for its surviving early frame and for the potential of hidden framing to reveal more.
Significance in brief: The house keeps its late First Period frame, with integrity of location, materials and workmanship (Criterion C). Its plan shows how early houses grew through additions in the First and Second Periods. Hidden frame elements in the probably oldest room may yield further information about its construction (Criterion D).
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 90000253, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 348 Lowell St., Peabody |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000253 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; probably built by Thorndike Proctor, son of John Proctor |
| Architectural style | First Period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; condition rated fair, with very little remaining evidence of original fabric visible. A 20th century garage is semi-attached. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.53360, -70.95405 (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 90000253.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6253488
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.