Wade House
Why it's listed
Built in 1792 by Francis Merrifield Jr. on a corner lot bought from his father, this 1½-story gambrel cottage at 5 Woods Lane in Ipswich has a center chimney and a symmetrical five-bay facade centered on an entry with a rectangular transom. A small rear ell, added in two stages and containing a cooking fireplace, enlarges the original two-rooms-over-two-rooms plan. Inside, much original detail survives, including a central stair with a simple but handsome balustrade, a panelled fireplace wall in the south room, and panelled doors with painted graining. Fragments of early wallpaper are preserved, and the south room is papered with a reproduction based on them. In 1827 Mary Wade, daughter of Revolutionary War figure Col. Nathaniel Wade, bought the property, and it has stayed with her family since. The long ownership by one notable Ipswich family, the quality of the original detailing, the wooded setting and the rarity of gambrel cottages in town make it significant.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites its integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and its ties to the early development of Ipswich. It also points to long ownership by the Wade family, the quantity and quality of surviving original detail, its picturesque setting, and the scarcity of gambrel cottages in Ipswich.
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 80000467, listed September 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5 Woods Lane, Ipswich |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | September 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000467 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Francis Merrifield, Jr. (original owner who built the house); no architect named |
| Architectural style | Third Period (Federal) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence and has stayed in the Wade family since 1827. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.67656, -70.83100 (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 80000467.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7959066
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.