Rhodehouse, Nelson, House
Why it's listed
This 1 1/2-story cottage at 131 Main Street in Cotuit, part of Barnstable, was built about 1858 and is an example of Greek Revival design. It faces gable end to the street, and its entry sits in the southeast corner within a recessed porch. Flushboard siding simulates masonry, and a broad entablature wraps the building. Other details include corner pilasters, a raking cornice, and windows with wide surrounds, projecting lintels and sills, and 2/2 sash. A barn at the rear connects to the house by a shed, and a wooden picket fence borders the street. Deed records show that housewright Charles L. Baxter sold the property in 1858 to Nelson Rhodehouse, a mariner from Sandwich, and Baxter probably built it himself. Rhodehouse was among Barnstable men captured by Confederate privateers during the Civil War. His widow and later a daughter owned the house until 1955. It was listed for the quality of its architecture, and no major alterations are recorded.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for the high quality of its Greek Revival architecture, meeting criterion C. It also has local historical ties to Nelson Rhodehouse, a mariner whose ship was captured during the Civil War.
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 87000308, listed March 13, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 131 Main St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | March 13, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000308 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles L. Baxter (builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent, with no major alterations; present use is a dwelling. |
| Acreage | 2.7 |
| Coordinates | 41.63408, -70.44928 (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 87000308.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6990712
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.