Lincoln House Club
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 at 135 Bridge Street in Osterville, this shingle-clad house began as the center and lodging house of the Lincoln Club of Boston, a "fresh air" association whose members spent two summer weeks at the seaside. The club dissolved in 1922 and the property was sold, after which the building became a private dwelling. Tradition holds that a Boston architect designed it, but no name is recorded. Architecturally, it follows the Shingle Style as it developed in the 1880s: the whole mass sits under one broad gabled roof, the walls are sheathed entirely in shingles, and the 2 1/2-story house has a roof extending on carved brackets, large dormers, and a porch facing the sea. It has survived intact despite its change of use. The property is also said to possibly include an Indian burying ground, since a skeleton was found during renovations. It was listed for its fresh air movement associations and its Shingle Style design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for early associations with the "fresh air" movement and as a fine, unaltered example of the Shingle Style. It meets criteria A and C. It was built by the Lincoln Club of Boston as a seaside center and lodging house.
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 87000301, listed March 13, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 135 Bridge St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | March 13, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000301 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; present use is dwelling; no major alterations are recorded. |
| Acreage | 1.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.62213, -70.39595 (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 87000301.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6550761
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.