Stevens, Abiel, House
Also known as: Stevens House
Why it's listed
Built between 1710 and 1719 at the corner of Dale and Salem Streets, this timber-frame house is a 2½-story, center-chimney dwelling with clapboard walls and a five-bay south-facing facade. Later additions include a shed-roofed leanto from 1791 and a pedimented center porch from 1795, when housewrights Daniel Page and Abijah Fuller also installed late Georgian panelling in the upstairs chambers. Inside, the first floor keeps early quirked molding, feathered wainscoting and a tall cupboard. The house is tied to Abiel Stevens, born in Andover in 1681, who escaped capture in the last Indian raid on Andover in 1698 and later served as Clerk of the Market. A 1718 deed calls him a joiner, so he may have done the original interior carpentry. James Bridges ran a small store on the property before 1790. Of North Andover's six First Period two-room central chimney houses, this one best preserves its original exterior, and the grounds may hold archaeological evidence of the store and 18th-century life.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an intact example of late First Period architecture and a symbol of North Andover's early development. Of the six First Period two-room central chimney houses in town, it alone has kept most of its original exterior form and detail. Its grounds may also hold archaeological information, including a possible 18th-century store site.
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 83000585, listed April 15, 2014. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 280 Salem St., North Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | April 15, 2014 |
| Reference number | 83000585 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 (specific dates 1710-1719) |
| Architect / builder | Builder unknown; possibly Abiel Stevens |
| Architectural style | Late First Period |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; the form lists the condition as unaltered and on its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.68060, -71.09963 (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 83000585.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4667630
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.