Richardson, John, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1795, this 1½-story Cape cottage at 242 Phinneys Lane in Centerville, Barnstable, follows the 3/4 Cape form under a gable roof. The entry and chimney sit one bay in from the north, the trim is minimal with no transom over the door, and the windows hold 6/6 sash. A one-story rear ell and a mid-19th-century 1½-story north wing were added without altering the original design. The barn is also retained. John Richardson, a Harvard student, came to Centerville to teach school in 1795 and soon built the house for his wife; he was the first teacher at the Phinneys Lane School. Jane Phinney Richardson later had an addition built. The homestead has passed down through the family, making it the only Centerville house still owned by members of its original family. It stands near the site of the first meetinghouse and the burying ground, in the village's original settlement center.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved local example of a Federal period Cape cottage. It is one of the few early dwellings left in Centerville's original settlement center on Phinneys Lane. It has long been associated with the Richardson family, whose descendants have kept the homestead.
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 87000281, listed September 18, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 242 Phinney's Ln., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | September 18, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000281 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal (3/4 Cape cottage) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; condition is listed as excellent, with no major alterations recorded on the survey form. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.65794, -70.33860 (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 87000281.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6254835
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.