Russell House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built around 1805 at 28 Rocky Hill Road in Andover, this almost square, clapboard-covered Federal house was constructed for Deacon Joel Russell (1787-1871). Russell built on the large homestead begun by his great-great-grandfather Robert Russell, whose homeland gave its name to the Scotland school district. Joel Russell was remembered as a good neighbor and useful townsman, but he became insolvent in later life and sold the house as a duplex in 1856 to two farmers. It then changed hands often until 1949. The house sits on a rise, with broad elevations, classical doorways on three sides and original window sashes. It was listed for its long link to one of Andover's founding families, prominent in developing the southern part of town, and as an impressive example of the town's vernacular Federal architecture. The building retains its design, materials, workmanship and setting. A 1980 local survey recorded it as vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is important for its long association with Russell, one of Andover's founding families, who were prominent in developing the southern part of town. It is also an impressive example of vernacular Federal-period architecture in Andover, and it 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 82004808, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 28 Rocky Hill Rd., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004808 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is listed as vacant on the 1980 local survey form. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.61826, -71.12008 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82004808.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7381566
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.