Rogers-Downing House
Why it's listed
Built between 1848 and 1852 at 269 Highland Road in Andover, this clapboard house began as the country home of Boston businessman Benjamin Rogers. It follows an unusual H-shaped plan, with a 1½-story cross piece joining two 2½-story end wings. The wings are linked by a long open porch topped with a rhythmic roof balustrade, and the cross wings and two small cross gables carry scroll-sawn bargeboards. Six-over-six windows and an offset doorway with sidelights complete the plain but distinctive design. Rogers sold the estate in 1870, and after several speculative owners it was bought by John J. Downing of Boston, who turned it into a well-known dairy and orchard. The Downing family held it until 1968, selling off some land for modern subdivisions. Its hilltop setting and spacious plan give the house a distinguished presence. It was listed for its history as a country estate and farm and for its Gothic Revival design.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites its original role as a country home for a Boston businessman and its later use as a well-known dairy and orchard farm. It also points to the unusual H-shaped plan and elaborate Gothic Revival detailing. The property is said to retain 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 82004802, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 269 Highland Rd., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004802 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the form records the building as altered. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.65980, -71.11893 (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 82004802.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7359250
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.