Crosby, Daniel, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1790, this half Cape cottage at 18 Bay Street in Osterville has a three-bay facade, a side entry and a side chimney. It rises one and a half stories to a gable roof, with projecting window frames holding 6/6 sash and a simply framed entry. The exterior is clad in clapboard and shingle, and the form records no major alterations and no outbuildings. The house is tied to Daniel Crosby (1765-1828), ancestor of all Osterville Crosbys, including the noted boatbuilders, who was known as a merchant from 1804 to 1854. It sits along the route to North and West Bays, where most local boatbuilding took place. Later owners included the Reverend Edward Bourne Hinckley, a Methodist minister and the first village librarian. The house later served as home of the village historical society until the early 1960s. It was listed for its association with a notable local figure and as a well-preserved Federal period half Cape.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as the home of Daniel Crosby, ancestor of all Osterville Crosbys, including the noted boatbuilders. It is also a fine unaltered example of a Federal period half Cape. It is located on the access to North and West Bays, where most boatbuilding took place.
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 87000306, listed September 18, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 18 Bay St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | September 18, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000306 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian (described in the text as a Federal period half Cape) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as good with no major alterations; the house is a present dwelling and has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.62890, -70.38782 (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 87000306.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5216880
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.