Santuit Post Office
Why it's listed
Built around 1846-48 on Main Street in the Cotuit-Santuit area of Barnstable, this small building served as the village post office until the 1970s and has since been converted to a private dwelling. It is a simple 1 1/2-story structure with a steeply pitched gable roof, flush board siding, an oriel in the second-story gable, and a one-story porch protecting the side entry; the porch now rests on tubular metal supports that replaced earlier posts. Its diminutive size and Gothic Revival detailing resemble the seaside resort cottages built between 1850 and 1875. The local survey reasons that the post office was probably moved closer to the growing Cotuit Port section after the death of first postmaster Roland Crocker in 1846, rather than dating from the original 1821 establishment. It was listed for its role in the village's development and as a good example of early Gothic Revival architecture. The same lot holds the Silas Jones House and a barn, built between 1880 and 1907.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for its link to the growth of Cotuit Port as the village center and for serving as the village post office from 1846 to 1970. It is also described as a good example of early Gothic Revival architecture. Its small size and detailing resemble seaside resort cottages of the mid-1800s.
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 87000309, listed November 10, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | November 10, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000309 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a post office in the 1970s and converted to a private dwelling; condition described as good. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.63516, -70.44978 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 87000309.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7420720
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.