The Michael Reade House stands on the southern fringe of Dover's central business district, on the east side of Main Street opposite the Cocheco Mills complex.

It is a 2+1⁄2-story wood-frame structure, with a side-gable roof, central chimney, and clapboarded exterior.

The entry is flanked by sidelight windows and is sheltered by a mid-to-late 19th century Victorian bracketed hood.

There is fine Georgian-style wood panelling in the kitchen and southwest parlor, and transitional Federal woodwork in other rooms.

[2] The house was built around 1780 for Michael Reade, an Irish immigrant who came to North America in 1741, and was one of Dover's leading merchants.