Hinckley's Corner Historic District
Also known as: Paine Hollow Road North Historic District
Why it's listed
Hinckley's Corner Historic District is a group of three Cape Cod-style houses and their outbuildings in South Wellfleet, Massachusetts, near Paine Hollow Road and the Old Kings Highway. The Jonathan Young Homestead, built about 1790, is a full Cape; the John Lewis House and Robert Paine House, both about 1820, are three-quarter Capes. Each is a 1 1/2-story dwelling with a gable roof and little ornament, sheathed in clapboards on the front and shingles elsewhere. Doorway details differ, showing pilasters and dentils, a fanlight, or a transom with tapered pilasters. Outbuildings include a former store and gas station, an oyster house built in 1927-28, a fire engine garage and a boatbuilding shop, reflecting the area's fishing, shellfishing and small-business life. The district was recognized for its architecture, as a locally significant example of how modest Cape Cod houses varied in form, with a period of significance from about 1790 to 1948 and only minimal, functional alterations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is locally significant under Criterion C for architecture. The three houses represent modest, utilitarian homes of early settlers and show varied Cape Cod forms (full and three-quarter Cape) with Georgian-Federal entrance details. The outbuildings, including an oyster house, former store and workshops, reflect residents' livelihoods and changing economic times.
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 98000595, listed May 29, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 0, 25, and 40 Way #112, WellFleet |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | May 29, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000595 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c.1790 - 1948 |
| Architectural style | Early 19th century; Other: Cape Cod (with Georgian-Federal influences) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Houses are in residential use with limited alteration; the boatbuilding shop is dilapidated and has fallen in, and the oyster house is boarded up. |
| Acreage | 7.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.91711, -70.00370 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 98000595.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15224143
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.