Goff Farm
Why it's listed
Goff Farm, at 158 Perryville Road in Rehoboth, is a farmhouse whose oldest part dates from the 18th or early 19th century. In 1897 the house was raised, a new first floor was built beneath it, and a 2½-story side ell was added. The result is a simple Italianate residence that keeps echoes of its earlier form outside and is noted for fine interior work, including varnished woodwork, brass door hardware, wainscoting in the ell, and a walk-in pantry refrigerator. Cromwell Goff bought the land in the early 1800s, and the family ran a large dairy business here until a 1954 hurricane damaged the 1897 barn, which was later demolished. Much of the farmland now belongs to a country club that keeps the grazing land open. Harold Goff, the last family member in residence, served as selectman and in other public roles. The property was listed for showing how a farming family's pride shaped a conservative remodelling.
Significance in brief: The house reflects the conservative approach to architecture in Rehoboth, where existing buildings were usually modified rather than replaced. The 1897 remodelling by a prominent farming family produced a simple Italianate residence with fine interior craftsmanship. It meets criterion C as an example of how architectural type evolved in response to social change.
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 83000672, listed June 6, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 158 Perryville Rd., Rehoboth |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | June 6, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000672 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian (Italianate) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; the 1897 barn was demolished after hurricane damage in 1954, while the ice house survives south of the house. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.86744, -71.25785 (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 83000672.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5577238
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.