National Register of Historic Places

Mill Way Historic District

Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Listed
November 10, 1987
Type
District
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87000271

About this property

The Mill Way Historic District encompasses a residential area significant in the development of the maritime industry in Barnstable Village, Massachusetts. It includes thirteen houses, ten on Mill Way and three on adjacent Freezer Road, just north of the Old King's Highway. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Mill Way was the major route between the center of Barnstable and its port area from its very earliest days. Agriculture dominated the village until later in the 18th century, with a grist mill located to make use of the local tides for its power. In the 19th century the port area grew as a shipbuilding and salt production center, and some of the district's buildings reflect this heritage. The oldest house in the district is the David Bursley House (35 Mill Way), built c. 1750; it is a 2+1⁄2-story four-bay house with side gable roof, and wood shingle siding. It was supposedly built as a single-story cottage, which was then raised on ship masts to build a new ground floor underneath. The 1797 Maraspin House (200 Mill Way) is a fairly typical five-bay Cape cottage, whose property in 1835 included two wharves, a store, barn, mill, salthouse, and other outbuildings. The Stetson Cottage is one of the few buildings in the district with significant later alteration. Built c. 1785, the five-bay cottage was given a Colonial Revival treatment in the early 20th century, with a five-bay dormer across the front roof, and a porch with Tuscan columns below.

Location

Barnstable, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
41.70335, -70.30049

Categories

INDUSTRYARCHITECTUREMARITIME HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

U.S. Customshouse
Industrial
0.2 mi
Barnstable County Courthouse
Industrial
0.2 mi
Old Jail
Industrial
0.2 mi
Hyannis Road Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi
Baker, Nathaniel, House
Industrial
0.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Mill Way Historic District listed on the National Register?

Mill Way Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 10, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Mill Way Historic District?

Mill Way Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Mill Way Historic District?

The period of significance for Mill Way Historic District is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Mill Way Historic District?

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