Turnpike House
Why it's listed
Located at 314 Broadway in Methuen, this 1½-story Federal cottage dates to about 1805. It has a pitched roof, clapboard siding, a granite foundation and a five-bay facade with a central entry framed by full-length sidelights with five panes each. The windows have simple enframements and 2/2 sash, which replaced earlier sash in the late 19th century. An early 20th century rear wing, a projecting bay and a garage/dwelling addition at the north were added later, but the original features remain visible. The house was built soon after the 1806 Essex Turnpike connected Methuen with Boston and increased travel and trade along what is now Broadway, making it one of central Methuen's earliest residences. It was listed for its link to the early development of central Methuen and as a good example of its style and type. It is described as one of the most intact early 19th century cottages left in the town and is still a private home.
Significance in brief: It is one of central Methuen's earliest residences, built shortly after the 1806 Essex Turnpike linked Methuen with Boston and brought travel and trade along Broadway. It is also one of the most intact early 19th century cottages remaining in the town. The form says it retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship.
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 84002439, listed January 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 314 Broadway, Methuen |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | January 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002439 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal cottage |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a private residence, the same as its original use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.72979, -71.18948 (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 84002439.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7856095
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.