Townsend House
Also known as: Bittersweet
Why it's listed
Set on a low knoll above a tidal cove of Blackfish Creek in Wellfleet, this 1 1/2-story post-and-beam Cape Cod house was built about 1804 by Dr. James Townsend, a physician, and his wife Hannah. It has a five-bay facade, a central brick chimney, a brick foundation and a center entrance with a six-panel door. Inside, the original floor plan is arranged around the central chimney, with hand-planed woodwork, original plaster containing clam shell and horse hair, a beehive oven, a dry sink and a brick food cellar. Of roughly twenty similar five-bay Cape houses in Wellfleet, it is among the best preserved and stands out for its interior finishes. A 1988 side addition, a relocated summer kitchen and a returned outhouse share the lot. The property is also considered likely to hold prehistoric and historic archaeological remains, including evidence of early medical practice and salt production.
Significance in brief: The house is significant locally under Criterion C as an excellent example of the Cape Cod house form with a high level of integrity. It is among the best-preserved of about twenty similar five-bay Cape houses in Wellfleet and stands out for the quality of its interior finishes and details. The property also has high potential for prehistoric and historic archaeological resources.
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 98000542, listed May 20, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 290 Paine Hollow Rd., Wellfleet |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | May 20, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000542 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1804 |
| Architect / builder | Dr. James Townsend (builder, according to family tradition) |
| Architectural style | Early 19th Century; Other: Cape Cod |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling with secondary structures; a 1988 side addition was built, and the outhouse is non-functional. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.91187, -70.00990 (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 98000542.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7830186
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.