Bowers, Jerathmell, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1673 on a gentle knoll at 150 Wood Street, this 1 1/2-story timber frame farmhouse is the oldest known domestic building in Lowell. It has five bays, clapboard siding, a stone foundation and a large central chimney. Additions include a late 17th or early 18th century kitchen ell, a mid-19th century milking shed and a sunroom and shed extension added around 1914. Inside, a four-room plan, hand-hewn roof members, raised-panel cupboards and wide hand-sawn boards reflect its colonial origins. The farm once covered about 150 acres and is now reduced to three acres. It has remained in the Bowers family from construction onward. The house is significant for its part in the agrarian economy of East Chelmsford as the area shifted toward industrial Lowell, and as a well-preserved modest 17th-century farmhouse. The period of significance runs from 1673 to 1914, when the family renovated the house after selling part of its land.
Significance in brief: Under Criterion A, it reflects the development of the agrarian economy of East Chelmsford into the 19th and early 20th centuries, and it has stayed in Bowers family ownership since construction. Under Criterion C, it is a well-preserved modest 17th-century farmhouse with only minimal expansion over more than 300 years. It is also a rare survivor of pre-industrial Lowell.
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 93001588, listed January 28, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 150 Wood St., Lowell |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | January 28, 1994 |
| Reference number | 93001588 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1673-1914 |
| Architectural style | Colonial/Postmedieval English |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition with minimal exterior alterations; current function listed as single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 42.63061, -71.35471 (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 93001588.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6180604
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.