Town Line Boundary Marker
Why it's listed
A weathered stone post on Great Hill Road in West Barnstable marks the boundary between the towns of Barnstable and Sandwich. It measures roughly 12 inches wide, 8 inches thick and 48 inches high, and stands in a rural setting. A vertical line is chiseled up its middle, with the letter B on the right for Barnstable and the letter S on the left for Sandwich. Nobody recorded when it was erected or who made it, though reviewers presumed it dates from the late 17th or early 18th century. The line it marks traces back to the settlers' 1644 purchase of most of present-day West Barnstable from the Indian Chief Serunk. The marker was listed because it is tied to the history of how Barnstable's boundaries were established, and it keeps its original location, design, materials and rural setting. Both towns jointly own it, and no alterations are reported.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the marker is significant for its association with the history of Barnstable's boundary establishment. The boundary reflects land the settlers purchased from the Indian Chief Serunk in 1644, covering most of what is now West Barnstable. It is judged 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 87000243, listed September 18, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 410 High St., Barnstable |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | September 18, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000243 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Stone post in a rural setting, owned by the Towns of Barnstable and Sandwich; no alterations are recorded. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.72214, -70.40052 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 87000243.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.