Smith, Matthias, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1760 for Matthias Smith, this story-and-a-half Full Cape stands on the southwest side of Cedar Street in West Barnstable. It began as a three-quarter Cape and was enlarged to a full Cape by adding a bay on the right; the work is recorded as done in 1966. Two one-story ells sit to the left. Details include a centered front door with a transom of two bull's-eye lights, small-pane 12/12 windows, unpainted wood shingle walls and chimneys at both gable ends. The property remains a working farm with a barn, tool house, three chicken houses and a garage. Deed records trace ownership from Matthias Smith, born 1738, to his son Isaac in 1819, then to Henry Lawrence in 1836 and through several later owners. Cedar Street was once part of an Indian trail used by early settlers between Plymouth and Mattakeese. The house is valued as an example of a mid-18th century farmstead that grew over time.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is significant as an evolutionary example of a mid-18th century West Barnstable farmstead, made up of an expanded main house and numerous outbuildings. It is said to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association.
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 87000240, listed March 13, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 375 Cedar St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | March 13, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000240 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; original owner Matthias Smith |
| Architectural style | Full Cape, story and a half |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; in use as a private residence and working farm. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.70647, -70.39285 (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 87000240.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6791607
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.