Cadman-White-Handy House
Also known as: Handy House
Why it's listed
Set at the corner of Hixbridge and Drift Roads in Westport, this eight-bay shingled house grew in three stages: an original section of 1710-1715, a middle addition of 1730-1750, and a Federal-style wing of 1825. The earliest part keeps exposed chamfered framing, while the later sections show Georgian paneling and Federal mantels and trim. Four buildings and two structures, including a well house, privy, shed and garage, remain with it, along with stone walls that mark the old house lot. George Cadman, his descendants the Whites, and later the Handy family, including two physicians, lived here until 1911. Early twentieth-century changes such as dormers and a porch were removed after 1937, when new owners recreated the Georgian door surrounds from photographs. The property is recognized for its architecture, its record of continuous development, and its ties to local families. It also has potential for archaeological discoveries.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the best surviving local examples of First and Second Period architecture, with a Federal-style third section, showing change over more than a century. It was also the home of significant Westport families, including the Cadmans, Whites and Handys, until 1911.
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 92000831, listed July 16, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 202 Hixbridge Rd., Westport |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 16, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000831 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1710-1911 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Colonial: Postmedieval; Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is single-family domestic; the house was restored by its twentieth-century owners, who reversed earlier alterations. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.57186, -71.07613 (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 92000831.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5016541
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.