Waldo, George A., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1825 at 233 Lawrence Street in Methuen, this clapboard house is one of the few high-style Federal period dwellings in the town. It rises two and a half stories under a hipped roof with a monitor, on a square plan. Windows have simple enframements and six-over-six sash. A central pavilion with a pedimented gable and a sidelit entry with an elliptical fanlight appear to belong to a turn-of-the-century addition. A granite and cast iron fence runs along the Lawrence Street frontage, and two freestanding granite Corinthian columns carrying urns stand at the western edge of the lot, added by Edward Searles, who owned the neighboring property. The house was associated with several prominent owners, among them John Low, a druggist. It survives from a period when Lawrence Street was one of few routes to the present town center, and it keeps a significant part of the street's original landscape. It has since served as a funeral home.
Significance in brief: The house is one of the few high-style Federal period houses in Methuen. It has several prominent owners, including druggist John Low. It also preserves a significant part of the original Lawrence Street landscape, a street that was once one of few routes to the present town center.
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 84002441, listed January 20, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 233 Lawrence St., Methuen |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | January 20, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002441 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a funeral home; originally a private residence. Later ells were added in the 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.72767, -71.18280 (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 84002441.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5536017
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.