Harlow Homestead
Why it's listed
Built around 1878 at 391 Main Street, on the road linking Santuit and Cotuit in Barnstable, this is a 1½-story, L-plan house with a gabled roof and a rear wing. It combines Greek Revival and Italianate features. The walls are covered in narrow vertical boards, said to be slats from a bed factory, with corner pilasters and a wide entablature. Windows have bracketed hoods and 6/6 sash, and the entry sits inside an enclosed porch at the angle of the L. A barn behind the house adds to its well-preserved late 19th-century character. Elijah Harlow bought the land in 1875, and the house appears under his name on the 1880 county atlas. It then passed through his widow, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and a second cousin, so the Harlow family has kept it for generations. Its architectural character, excellent condition and continuous family association led to its listing for architectural significance.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a well-preserved example of a transitional Greek Revival/Italianate residence from the later 19th century. It also reflects continuous ownership by the locally prominent Harlow family, who had lived in the Santuit/Cotuit area throughout the 19th century. The final listing was accepted under Criterion C.
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 87000324, listed September 18, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 391 Main St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | September 18, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000324 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is stated as excellent; the form describes a present dwelling with a rear addition, and states that members of the original family continue to own and reside in it. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.62858, -70.44243 (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 87000324.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5658972
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.