Taylor-Bray Farm
Why it's listed
Taylor/Bray Farm is a 21.95-acre farmstead in the Hockonum section of northeastern Yarmouth, bordered on the north by tidal marsh. The complex includes a half-Cape house of about 1800 with a rear ell and later additions, a two-and-a-half-story English-style barn, and seven small sheds, one of them built into a hillside, probably for root storage. The land descends from a grant to Richard Taylor around 1640, and Taylor descendants held the farm until 1896, when brothers William and George Bray bought it. The Brays belonged to a family that built ships near Bass Hole in the late 1700s and early 1800s. They farmed the land until their deaths in 1938 and 1941, and were known for strawberries. Much of the original acreage was sold for subdivision in 1971. The town bought the remainder in 1987 to halt further development. The farm was listed for its architecture and its role in Cape Cod agriculture, as the town's best preserved farmstead.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is the town's best preserved farmstead and a rare survivor of the northside agricultural settlement pattern. Its long, narrow holdings illustrate Yarmouth's early land division. It is also tied to the Taylor family, who held the land from the 1640 grant, and to the Bray family, who built ships nearby. It is significant at the local level.
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 92000287, listed September 29, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Bray Farm Rd. N. and Nottingham Rd., Yarmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | September 29, 1993 |
| Reference number | 92000287 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1800-1941 |
| Architectural style | No style; Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Maritime History, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Purchased by the Town of Yarmouth in 1987 through eminent domain to preserve the buildings and fields. The house and main barn were stabilized and reshingled. The barn has been converted to an apartment, and plans call for returning the farm to working use. Several sheds are in fair to poor condition. |
| Acreage | 22 |
| Coordinates | 41.72148, -70.20609 (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 92000287.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7689830
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.