Gifford Farm
Why it's listed
Set at the edge of Marstons Mills village, this 1 1/2-story Greek Revival house was built around 1850, probably by Chipman Hinckley, who had assembled a large landholding nearby. Instead of the usual five-bay front, it is a double house with twin entries centered between pairs of windows. Wide cornerboards, a full entablature beneath the eaves, a central facade gable and a one-story Doric porch complete the design, and the windows hold 6/6 sash. Siding covers the exterior, yet the important features remain. Ownership passed through the Hinckley, Bourne, Bodge and Kleinschmidt families before Lorenzo Gifford bought it in 1919. He built up a large dairy herd with a milk route, a slaughterhouse and a smoke house, and the property stayed Marstons Mills' last working farm until the mid-20th century. From 1926 to 1941 Mrs. Gifford served as postmistress from a building on the premises, making the farm a village gathering place.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an unusual Greek Revival double house with twin entries rather than the usual five-bay facade. It is also tied to Marstons Mills' 19th and 20th century agricultural history, since under Lorenzo Gifford it became the village's last working farm. Its post office from 1926 to 1941 made it a village social center.
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 87000245, listed March 13, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 261 Cotuit Rd., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | March 13, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000245 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; present use is a dwelling; no major alterations; the house retains its important features despite asbestos siding. |
| Acreage | 2.7 |
| Coordinates | 41.65743, -70.41149 (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 87000245.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5559919
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.