Isham, Herman, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1747 on Main Street in Osterville, this Georgian cottage began as a farm residence. It rises one and a half stories under a gable roof, with a central chimney, a full five-bay symmetrical facade and a one-story rear ell. The center entry has a heavy pilastered surround, swelled consoles and a rectangular transom with radiating muntins; only three houses in town use this entry treatment. Most windows hold 6/6 sash, probably 19th-century replacements, though some original 12/6 sash survives in the attic. A large barn, shed and greenhouse remain on the property, which sits in a rural setting north of the village and is now used as an office. Little is known of the first owner. The best-known occupant was Seth Weeks, last survivor of the whaler Essex, sunk by a whale in 1820, an event that inspired Herman Melville's Moby Dick. Weeks later commanded one of Barnstable's last whalers in 1847.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a fine example of a Georgian cottage with a five-bay facade, a central chimney and an elegant swelled console entry. It is one of only three houses in town with this entry treatment. Several outbuildings and the surrounding rural landscape add to its integrity. It was also home to Seth Weeks, last survivor of the whaler Essex.
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 87000295, listed March 13, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1322 Main St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | March 13, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000295 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition with no major alterations; present use is office. Outbuildings include a large barn, shed and greenhouse. |
| Acreage | 56.7 |
| Coordinates | 41.64087, -70.39216 (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 87000295.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5739872
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.