Smith House
Also known as: Lovell House
Why it's listed
Built around 1725 on Argilla Road in Ipswich, this house is a 2 1/2 story lean-to with a central chimney and a symmetrical five-bay front. A small gabled Greek Revival portico marks the front door, and early 20th century wings extend from the left and rear. The house is listed for its transitional character between First and Second Period construction. On the first floor, summer beams have beveled chamfers and small lamb's tongue stops, while other framing is boxed; the second floor is entirely boxed and appears never to have been exposed. The attic holds a five-bay oak principal rafter roof with butt cog purlins, and the gables keep plaster that may date to the 18th century. Second Period raised-field paneling and a central stair with square newels and turned balusters survive. The largely unaltered interior and rural setting support its integrity, and it remains a residence in good condition on about six acres.
Significance in brief: The house keeps integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship, with transitional features typical of late First Period houses (Criterion C). Its mix of chamfered and boxed framing shows the shift from First to Second Period building and may yield information on social and architectural history (Criterion D). Its rural setting and largely unaltered interior add to its integrity.
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 90000238, listed March 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 142 Argilla Rd., Ipswich |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | March 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000238 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late First Period/Transitional |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 42.67110, -70.79484 (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 90000238.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7545178
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.