Berry, Captain James, House
Why it's listed
Built about 1858 at 37 Main Street in West Harwich, this Greek Revival house was constructed for Captain James Berry, a mariner who owned seven merchant barquentines. It is a clapboard-sheathed, 2 1/2-story building with integral ells, a Doric-columned portico with parapet, and consistent classical detailing throughout. A small barn of the same date survives on the one-acre lot. Most Greek Revival houses in mid-19th-century Harwich were modest 1 1/2-story dwellings, so the size and unified plan of this house are unusual. It also reflects the town's fishing and coastal trade economy. Three generations of seagoing Berrys lived here, including Captain Henry Berry and Captain Osmyn Berry, who in July 1914 was the first to navigate the Cape Cod Canal. The house still holds objects collected on the captains' voyages and has remained in family use. It was listed for its architecture and for its link to this maritime family.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion B for its association with the Berry family of mariners and under Criterion C as a well-preserved, unusually large and unified example of Greek Revival design in Harwich. It reflects the town's maritime past and the prosperity of its seafaring families.
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 86001837, listed September 26, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 37 Main St., Harwich |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | September 26, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001837 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence, in excellent condition, and used by the Berry family as a summer residence. A studio addition was built at the rear in 1982. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.66922, -70.11841 (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 86001837.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5036684
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.