Bend of the Lane
Why it's listed
Bend of the Lane is a farmhouse at 181 Cedar Avenue in Swansea, Massachusetts, built about 1740 by Harlow Luther, a farmer and dairyman who placed it at the bend of what was then called Cedar Lane. The shingled main block is a 2½-story, double-pile gabled house facing south. A 1½-story rear ell was added around 1850. In the late 1920s a south wing was attached, a half-house moved from the old William Buffington homestead. A late 19th-century barn near the street, with a louvered cupola and sliding doors, once housed dairy machinery and later served for a time as a gift shop. Nineteenth-century owners included Victor Gardner, of a well-known farming family, and Philander Wilbur, who continued the dairy business. The property was recognized locally for its continuous ties to Swansea dairy farming and for a vernacular Georgian form that grew in stages while keeping its integrity.
Significance in brief: The house is an example of an 18th-century farmstead that was enlarged in stages, around 1850 and in the late 1920s, to meet its owners' needs. It has a continuous association with prominent Swansea farmers and dairying over two centuries. The form finds it significant at the local level under Criteria A and C.
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 90000057, listed February 12, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 181 Cedar Ave., Swansea |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | February 12, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000057 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Harlow Luther (recorded as builder, 1740); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Georgian vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; condition is described as excellent, and the barn is intact and in good condition. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 41.74111, -71.21938 (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 90000057.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4887007
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.