Woodridge House
Why it's listed
Set on Salem Street in Andover, this small 1½-story cottage was built between 1847 and 1852 for George B. Woodbridge, a cordwainer who bought the undeveloped land from Jesse Harnden in 1847. The land was soon mortgaged to neighbor and builder William S. Jenkins, who may also have designed the house. Woodbridge sold it in 1853 to farmer Charles E. Abbott, and a series of short-term owners followed before Henry C. Harnden held it from 1863 to 1887. The Wright family owned it from 1905 to 1962. Clapboard-sided with a gable roof, the house has a pedimented gable end, an entablature, wide corner pilasters, a recessed offset door with sidelight and classical trim, six-over-six windows and a one-story side ell. Its bold Greek Revival detailing is uncommon in Andover, particularly on the modest rural home of a craftsman, and this distinction is the basis for its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a uniquely bold example of a Greek Revival cottage, notable for its wide corner pilasters, fully pedimented gable end and classical recessed doorway. These features are uncommon in Andover, especially on the modest rural home of a craftsman. It is argued to meet Criteria A and C and to retain integrity of design, materials, workmanship and setting.
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 82004813, listed June 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 293 Salem St., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004813 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | William S. Jenkins? (possible designer, neighbor and builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential; the form lists present use as residential, with 20th-century alterations to dormers and gable windows. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.63321, -71.11059 (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 82004813.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8033144
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.