Merrill Estate
Why it's listed
This 1 1/2 story, five-bay Cape cottage at 1874 South County Road in Marstons Mills dates to about 1750-1775. It has a gable roof, a massive center chimney and shingle siding. Around 1825-1850 a 1 1/2 story Greek Revival wing was added to the front, marked by windows with projecting lintels and 2/2 sash, and by a porch along its eastern side. A two-bay English-style barn behind the house reflects its farming past. Early deeds were lost when the county courthouse burned in 1827, but the earliest surviving deed records a 1821 conveyance from Russell Lovell to William Sturgis. In 1834 the homestead passed to Harvey Scudder and Theophilus L. Adams, at a time when the first summer visitors were coming to the Cape. Ann E. Merrill of Melrose bought it in 1889, and the property has stayed in the Merrill family since. It was listed for its well-preserved Georgian form with a substantial Greek Revival addition, and for its ties to agricultural and summer resort history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the house is a well-preserved Georgian farmhouse with a substantial Greek Revival addition. It also notes associations with Barnstable's early agricultural history and its later summer resort history. The final listing recommendation accepted it under Criterion 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 87000268, listed September 18, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1874 S. County Rd., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | September 18, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000268 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian cape with Greek Revival style front wing |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in 1986 as a present dwelling in good condition, with a barn and small woodshed on a 3.0-acre lot. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 41.65177, -70.40260 (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 87000268.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6820188
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.