Liberty Hall
Why it's listed
Liberty Hall is a modest village hall on Main Street in Marstons Mills Center, Barnstable, built in 1859 in the Greek Revival style. The 1 1/2 story building has a gable roof, corner pilasters and an entablature. Large windows with projecting lintels hold 12/12 sash, the gable window holds 6/6, and the entry sits in a one-story enclosed porch angled off one corner. A stock company of village residents erected the hall, a pattern typical of Barnstable. The name Liberty Hall appears in a Barnstable Patriot item from 1866. Open-front horse sheds used by both the hall and the neighboring church stood well into the 20th century. In the 1890s the Dramatic Club of Marstons Mills used the hall, and most village activities needing space took place there. The Methodist Church renovated it in 1945 for use as a parish house, then bought it and sold it to the Men's Club in 1960. It was renovated again in 1985 and remains in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hall is significant for its long role as a gathering place for village life in Marstons Mills since 1859. It is also presented as a representative example of a simple mid-19th century institutional building. It is argued to meet criteria A and 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 87000246, listed March 13, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | March 13, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000246 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; renovated in 1985; present use institutional. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.65427, -70.41226 (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 87000246.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6541738
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.