Gardner, Francis L., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1903 at 1129 Gardner's Neck Road in Swansea, this substantial Colonial Revival house was designed by Fall River architect Edward I. Marvell for Francis L. Gardner. It has a hipped roof with a full-width one-story porch, a square plan, hipped dormers with paned windows, a two-story side bay window and two brick chimneys with Tudor Revival detailing. Inside are original oak panelling, an oak staircase with a carved newel post, and an oak fireplace with Italian marble tiles. The house replaced the farmhouse of Gardner's father, Leland, whose large market-gardening operation grew celery, tomatoes and cucumbers in greenhouses with fifty thousand square feet of glass. Produce was shipped on Fall River Line boats to New York hotels. Francis and his brother Chester ran the business until about 1925, after which much of the land was sold for house lots. The house illustrates Swansea's shift from an agricultural town to a suburban one, and it remains well preserved.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it reflects community development in Swansea from market gardening to suburbia, through the Gardner family's greenhouse business. It is also a well-preserved, architect-designed Colonial Revival house of the early 20th century. Significance is local.
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 90000077, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1129 Gardner's Neck Rd., Swansea |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000077 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Edward I. Marvell (architect) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition with original fabric intact; used as a residence. The only noted exterior change is removal of the upper deck railing around 1950. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.72082, -71.20209 (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 90000077.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5481657
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.