Carney, Sgt. William H., House
Also known as: Martha Briggs Educational Club
Why it's listed
This modest clapboarded house at 128 Mill Street in New Bedford was built around 1850, during a period of growth driven by the whaling industry. It has a gabled front, a three-bay facade, a high granite basement and a rear service ell. Its Victorian bracketed entrance hood is a later addition, and restoration plans call for a Greek Revival doorway and six-over-six windows. The house is best known as the home of Sergeant William H. Carney, who bought it in 1870 after returning from California. Carney was the first Black recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. He served with the 54th Massachusetts Regiment and was wounded at Fort Wagner, South Carolina, in July 1863, where he seized the fallen flag and carried it forward. He worked as a letter carrier in New Bedford for thirty-one years. His family kept the house until 1938, when it became the headquarters of the Martha Briggs Educational Club.
Significance in brief: It was the home of Sergeant William H. Carney, a Civil War hero and the first Black recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. He earned the medal at the assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina, on July 18, 1863, while serving with the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. Carney bought the house in 1870 and lived there while working as a letter carrier.
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 75000243, listed April 21, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 128 Mill St., New Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | April 21, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000243 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1870-1901 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival with later Italianate elements |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Martha Briggs Educational Club and used as a club building; condition rated fair, with restoration planned. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.63750, -70.93248 (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 75000243.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7459789
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.