Adams-Crocker-Fish House
Why it's listed
Located at 449 Willow Street in West Barnstable, this story-and-a-half half-Cape house dates to about 1830 and is built in a vernacular Greek Revival style. It has a wing off the south gable end, an ell on the west facade, a chimney through the roof peak, a shallow-pitched roof with an east dormer, 12/12 windows and a low stone foundation. Light green clapboard and shingles cover the walls. A garage and four utility buildings stand close to the house. Deed records trace the property from Obadiah Adams through John A. Blossom, Lemuel and Mercy Crocker, and Isaac and Charles H. Fish. Local tradition holds that the house was moved from near Crooked Cartway and Willow Street after 1858. It was listed because few small vernacular farmsteads of this kind survive with their house and many outbuildings intact, and because it keeps its original character, with no major alterations and excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the property is a rare surviving small vernacular farmstead, with a half-cape house and many closely set outbuildings. It describes the house as an excellent, intact vernacular Greek Revival cottage that retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
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 87000219, listed March 13, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 449 Willow St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | March 13, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000219 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; half Cape, story and a half |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as excellent, with no major alterations. The property is a private residence and farm. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.70202, -70.38879 (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 87000219.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4680274
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.