Phinney, William and Jane, House
Why it's listed
Dating to about 1730, this five-bay, 1½-story cottage at 555 Phinneys Lane in Centerville, Barnstable, is described as the earliest remaining building in the village's original settlement. It has a center entry and chimney, a narrow transom over the door, simple projecting window frames with 6/6 sash, and a bowed roof that the nomination calls peculiar to Cape Cod. Tradition holds that it began as a half house and was later enlarged to full size. Inside are exposed structural members, original H and L hinges, and a double wall on the northeast side. The house is linked to William Phinney, a carpenter who learned his trade at age 14 and kept a shop for several years in a building used by the Bacon School. He probably built the house himself, which adds to its architectural interest. Its only major changes are a bathroom and modern kitchen facilities. It was listed for its association with settlement and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the earliest remaining building in Centerville's original settlement and is tied to the settlement process. It is also notable for its bowed roof, a form peculiar to Cape Cod, and for having probably been built by its carpenter owner, William Phinney.
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 87000284, listed March 13, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 555 Phinney's Ln., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | March 13, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000284 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | William Phinney |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; condition is good, with no major alterations other than a bathroom and modern kitchen facilities. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.66311, -70.32789 (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 87000284.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8020724
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.