Marston, William, House
Why it's listed
Overlooking Mill Pond in Marstons Mills, this Georgian house at 71 Cotuit Road was built around 1780 by Benjamin Marston. It is a wood-frame building of two and a half stories under a gable roof with a central chimney. The symmetrical five-bay facade centers on an entry with a transom and a surround of pilasters and an entablature, and the windows hold six-over-six sash. A one-story ell extends to the rear. A restoration in the 1960s kept or reused original material wherever possible. The house matters for its link to the Marston family, whose ancestor came from Salem in 1738, took over Goodspeeds Mill and gave the village its name. The homestead passed to Benjamin's son William, then to William's sister Sarah Phinney after his death in 1882, and left the family in 1895. Its architecture and hilltop setting add to its standing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its association with the Marston family and the mill that gave the village its name, and as a fine example of Georgian architecture. Its setting above Mill Pond adds to its character. It is said to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
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 87000234, listed March 13, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 71 Cotuit Rd., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | March 13, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000234 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Built by Benjamin Marston; architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; in present use as a dwelling; renovated and restored in the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 41.65226, -70.41426 (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 87000234.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8015170
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.