Lovell, Nehemiah, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1789, this 3/4 Cape cottage at 691 Main Street in Osterville stands on about one acre east of the village commercial center. It rises one and a half stories to a gable roof, with a Federal-style entry featuring a multi-paned transom and strip pilasters. Windows are simply framed and hold six-over-six sash. A three-bay, two-story wing extends east from the rear and appears to be contemporary with the house. The generous lot gives the property an open setting, and a barn remains on the grounds. Nehemiah Lovell (1764-1820) is the first known owner. Later, Capt. David Fuller owned it until he was lost at sea in 1854, leaving a widow, Olive, and a son, David Jr., who served in the Civil War. The Fuller family lived here for about a century. The house was listed for its well-preserved Federal character and its association with local families. It is recorded as being in excellent condition and unaltered.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a well-preserved example of Federal-style architecture in the Osterville village center. It is also tied to several locally prominent families over a long period. The final form cites criterion C; an earlier draft cited B 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 87000291, listed September 18, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 691 Main St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | September 18, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000291 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as excellent, with no major alterations and the house not moved; it is a present dwelling. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.62736, -70.38034 (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 87000291.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6987825
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.