Sibley-Corcoran House
Why it's listed
This brick house on Valley Road in Washington, Massachusetts, was built about 1810 to 1816 by Ezra Sibley as the centerpiece of an extensive farmstead. It began as a five-bay Federal-style house with a central entrance and six-over-six windows, similar to others in town. In 1825 Ezra Sibley sold it with 123 acres to Daniel Sibley, who added Greek Revival details in the 1820s, including a broad entablature with cornice and frieze and enclosed pediments. Later changes brought enclosed porches on granite blocks and a shed-roofed rear ell. Construction came shortly before many Washington farmers left for Ohio's Western Reserve, which limited the town's growth. When the Western Railroad was built through town beginning in 1838, its tracks ran just east of the house. John Corcoran, a railroad employee, bought the property in 1869, and his son Mike also worked for the railroad. The house retains its integrity and was found significant at the local level.
Significance in brief: The house is a Federal-period residence built during Washington's brief period of growth, on the eve of many farmers leaving for Ohio's Western Reserve. It also shows Greek Revival detailing applied to a Federal-style house. Its later owners were tied to the Western Railroad, whose tracks ran just east of it.
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 86002143, listed September 12, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Valley Rd., Washington |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | September 12, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002143 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Ezra Sibley (builder); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; used as a residence. A mid-20th-century garage stands behind the house, and the barn was demolished, though its foundations remain. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 42.37606, -73.11369 (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 86002143.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7507128
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.