Nomination for Stevens, Abiel, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

NPS Form 10-900 (3-82) OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries-complete applicable sections 1. Name For NPS use only received MAY 2 3 1983 date entered historic Abiel Stevens House and/or common 2. Location Stevens House street & number 280 Salem Street N/A - not for publication city, town North Andover N/A vicinity of state Massachusetts code 025 3.

Classification Category Ownership district public X building(s) X private structure both site Public Acquisition object N/A in process being considered county Essex code 009 Status X occupied - unoccupied work in progress Accessible - yes: restricted yes: unrestricted X no Present Use - agriculture commercial educational entertainment government industrial military X - museum - park private residence religious scientific transportation _ other: 4. Owner of Property name Robert C. and Joan E. Forget street & number 280 Salem Street city, town North Andover N/Avicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Registry of Deeds, Lawrence District Court House street & number Common Street city, town Lawrence state Massachusetts 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic title Assets of the Commonwealth, #110 has this property been determined eligible? yes X no date 1981 federalX state county local depository for survey records Massachusetts Historical Commission city, town Boston state Massachusetts 7. Description Abiel Stevens House, North Andover, Massachusetts Condition excellent & good. fair S deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one X unaltered - altered Check one original site moved date N/A Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Abiel Stevens House is a late First Period house (1710-19) in the rural, southern section of North Andover. Containing 3/4 of an acre of land, the property is located at the intersection of Dale Street and Salem Street - the latter once being a main thoroughfare to the coastal city of that name. The building is a 2½ story, center chimney structure of timber frame construction. As usual with early dwellings, the Stevens House faces south. Clapboard covered wal1s are framed by plain, unmolded corner boards and fascia; the gable ends do not return. All of the main windows on the south, east, and west elevations have 9/6 sash set in molded frames. Some of the glass panes, if not original, are very old crown glass. The broad, five-bay facade contains paired windows and a center porch (added in 1795) with fully pedimented gable and 4/4 side windows.

The west elevation has three windows aligned vertically; the east elevation is similar but has an additional second story window. Attic windows have 4/4 sash. In 1791 a shed-roofed leanto was added to the north side of the Stevens House; the original clapboarding is still to be seen along what is now an interior wal1. The addition is nine feet shorter than the main structure, allowing space for two 9/6 sash to penetrate the uncovered north wall of the latter. The leanto is lighted principally by four 6/6 windows in plain frames which are symmetrically arranged along its north wall. Six-pane sash in unmolded frames light either end of the leanto's second story loft.Typical of the late 18th century, the-doors on the leanto ends feature two crossed layers of ship-lapped wide boards hung by large strap hinges. The east door still retains its large box lock in place as well as a bar.

The interior of the Abiel Stevens House retains considerable original' and early detailing. The first floor exhibits quirked molding on girts and summer beams, a three-panel door- with feather-edged boards, and in the east room, feathered wainscoting and a tall cupboard. In 1795, housewrights Daniel Page and Abijah Fuller replaced original feathered pannelling in the second story chambers with fine late Georgian panelling, including, for all four windows in the west chamber, sliding panelled shutters. Outbuildings and other structures on the property are several. The west door of the leanto opens onto a smal1 brick terrace on which is located a well which served the early occupants. The well opening is now covered by a small box-like wooden structure. Adjacent to the house, on the east side, stands a shed-like L-shaped structure of indeterminate age.

Some of the interior timber framing seems to date from an early period, possibly late 18th century, while other parts of the building are obviously of much later construction. Thesheathing of this outbuilding is of periods consistent with those of the framing. Now used mainly for storage, this structure may be the result of fire or of a dismantling of other structures on the property. (Continued) NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form Abiel Stevens House, Continuation sheetNorth Andover,Massachusettstem number 7 OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 Far NPS use anly received dale entered Page 1 The remaining building is a two-stall garage of cinderblock construction. Inter- estingly enough, however, an abandoned filled-in well is located 14 feet to the south of this garage.

Possibly an excavation of this well could provide additional historical information about the Stevens homestead. With the several early exceptions noted above, the Abiel Stevens House has preserved most of its exterior form intact since it was built during the early decades of the 18th century.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Abiel Stevens House, North Andover, Massachusetts Period - prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 X 1700-1799 1800-1899 1900 Areas of Significance - Check and justify below archeology-prehistoric - community planning - archeology-historic - conservation - agriculture _ economics X architecture education art engineering commerce X exploration/settlement communications _industry _ invention landscape architecture law literature military music - philosophy - politics/government religion science - sculpture - social/ humanitarian _ theater _ transportation - other (specify) Builder/Architect Builder unknown; possibly Abiel Stevens Specific dates 1710-1719 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) The Abiel Stevens House is significant as an intact example of late First Period architecture and as a symbol of the early development of North Andover. Retaining integrity of design, materials, workmanship, location and setting, the property meets criteria A and C of the National Register. The Abiel Stevens House, alone of the six First Period two-room central chimney houses in North Andover, has preservedmostof its original exterior form and detail intact. The house was built between 1710, the year of Stevens' marriage to Deborah Barker, and 1719, when the dwelling is known to have been standing and owned by Abiel Stevens (Andover Proprietors Records, First Book). Born in Andover in 1681, son of John and Esther Stevens, Abiel probably lived a typical farm boy's existence until March 15, 1698, when he was captured in the 1ast Indian raid on Andover.

Feigning lameness, he managed to escape, although fired upon by his captors. Stevens' occupation was listed in most records as husbandsman, but a 1718 deed calls him a "joyner," which raises the possibility that he may have, been responsible for the house's original interior carpentry, much of which is still visible, parti- cularly on the first floor. In 1719, the Selectmen's accounts show that Abiel Stevens held the position of Clerk of the Market, responsible for the accuracy of the merchants' weights and measures. Other than this minor post, Abiel probably led the uneventful life of a hard-working Colonial farmer until his death in 1778. Approximately 10 acres of land originally accompanied the house, along with outlying farmland, Abiel Stevens Sr. left the property to his son Abiel,Jr., who sold it in 1778 to one Samuel Carlton.

In turn, Carlton sold it in 1787 to James Bridges, who opened a smal1 store on the property. At Bridges' death in 1790, an inventory showed rry. At Brsapes death that the establishment had sold staples such as rum, molasses, sugar, salt, raisins, cloth, crockery and other sundries. Although the exact site of this store is not known, archaeological investigation could well yield information about it and other aspects of eighteenth century life. From about 1790 until 1875, the dwelling and its surrounding acreage seems to have been rental property. After 1875, the property was in the possession of frequently changing owners, none of whom distinguished themselves in town history.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Standard History of Essex County, Boston, 1878, C. F. Jewett & Company. Bailey, Sarah L. Historical Sketches of Andover, Mass. Boston, Houghton, Mifflin Co., 188 (Continued) 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 3/4 Quadrangle name South Groveland UTM References A L119/ |32121310 Zone Easting L417.217\21610 Northing Quadrangle scale 1:24,000 Easting Northing F Verbal boundary description and justification Refer to sketch map enclosed. List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state code county code N/A state code county code 11. Form Prepared By Wendy Frontiero, Preservation Planner, with Robert C.

Forget, North Andover name/title Historical Society organization Massachusetts Historical Commission date 1982 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston state Massachusetts 02108 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national _ state local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to tlee criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature Paluue Leslowski State Historic Preservation Officer, title Massachusetts Historical Commission date 1/28/83 For NPS use only I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register elares Fatered in the yer *Keeper of the National Register Matlonal Register Attest: Chief of Registration date 6/23/83 date DALE STREET 000000000 Stone 00000 Fence Garage Well Abiel Stevens House Gravel drive - Abandoned Well SALEM Utility easement ABIEL STEVENS HOUSE NORTH ANDOVER, MA. Scale: ]"=40 feet Source: Robert C. Forget 1982 cemetery, LOCUS OF SITE street Po. Marbler Brook 1"= 600 ft. N street APpleton Abiel Stevens House 280 Salem St., North Andover, Ma.

01845 Sketch map of property NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES United States Department ef ths intories Mational Park Service EYALUATION / RETURN SHE - Stevens, Abiel, House Essex County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government omnar abjection appeal Substantive Reviow: Reviower's comments: Working Mo. MAY 23 1983 Fad. Reg. Date:- 2-7-84 Dato Due: 6/23/83 -7/7/83 Action: _ACCEPT 6/23/83 Entered in the National Register - RETURN - REJECT. Foderal Agensy: _ -sample - request - appeal - NR decision -Momination returned for: Recom. /Criteria - Reviewer - Discipline. Date -soe continuation sheet -technical corrections cited below -substantive reasons discussad below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Comorala Proood - Jo Ditien 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys lne lede property teen deermain Chock ena - MOved 7. Description acell good SoM istortorata ruins ock o - unertared stwed eout asi argland (l lunooert pényndeed summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/intagrity dates boundary salection 8. Significance Anaco of sigmitlcamos Chacie and funttry wikdor Arehiteet aeeiie datae Seate ant of steniñtoenoo (la aua perograp summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource - context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Aoreege of nominsied property - Quedrangle name _ UNT Reterences Verbel benadary doaci wd justiffeariben 11. Form Prepared By 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evalucted eigniticance of thie property within the otate is: _ netional State Mistoric Preserration Officer signeture 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to. Signed Date Phone: 202 272-3504 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Abiel Stevens House 280 Salem St., North Andover, Ma. 01845 Robert C. Forget 1982 Negative in owner's possession Photo # 1 of 6 Front elevation, camera facing North Abiel Stevens House 280 Salem St., North Andover, Ma. 01845 Robert C. Forget 1982 Negative in owner's possession Photo #2 of 6 Rear elevation, camera facing South Abiel Stevens House, 280 Salem St., North Andover, Ma., 01845 Robert C. Forget Negative in owner's possession Photo #3 of 6 West elevation, camera facing East Abiel Stevens House 280 Salem St., North Andover, Ma.

01845 Robert C. Forget 1982 Negative in owner's possession Photo #4 of 6 East elevation, camera facing Northwest Abiel Stevens House 280 Salem ~t., North Andover, Ma. Robert C. Forget 1982 Negative in owner's possession Photo # 5 of 6 Southwest view, camera facing North east Abiel Stevens House 280 Salem St., North Andover, Ma. 01845 Robert C. Forget 1982 Negative in owner's possession Photo # 6 of 6 Detail of West entrance, camera pointing East