Crowell-Smith House
Also known as: Crosby House
Why it's listed
Located at 33 Pine Street in central Hyannis, this two-story house dates to about 1775 and is still used as a residence. It rises to a hip roof with rear wall chimneys, a layout the inventory describes as uncommon in Barnstable County and different from other local Federal buildings. A one-and-a-half-story gable-roofed ell extends to the rear. The symmetrical five-bay facade centers on a Greek Revival style entry with a rectangular transom, sidelights and an architrave with lintel shelf, and the windows hold 12/12 sash with shutters. Wood shingles cover the walls and may be a twentieth-century change. Local histories say two different Captain Crosbys owned the house, and it served as the first parsonage of the Baptist Church on Main Street. Mid-nineteenth-century maps show nothing on the present site, so the house was moved, possibly back from Main Street. It was listed for its architectural value and was later renamed Crowell-Smith House after further research.
Significance in brief: The house is judged significant as an unusual example of Federal period construction with a rear wall chimney plan, which is uncommon in Barnstable County. It is described as a fine, unaltered example of the style that differs from other local examples. It is also tied to local owners, two Captains Crosby, and to the Baptist Church as its first parsonage.
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 87000272, listed March 13, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 33 Pine St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | March 13, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000272 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; condition is described as excellent, with no major alterations recorded. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.64915, -70.28798 (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 87000272.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5189215
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.