Goff Homestead
Why it's listed
Set on a peninsula jutting north into Squannakonk Swamp in Rehoboth, this Georgian house dates to roughly 1750-1780. It faces south with its gable end toward Maple Lane, a road not fully paved until about 1950, and it was placed with regard to terrain and practicality rather than the road. Its most striking feature is a pair of triangular, canted end chimneys. The east stack has been covered after chimney fire damage, while the west remains intact. Few double-chimney houses of this type were built or survive in Rehoboth, and the house is the only 2½-story wood frame example. The original trabeated entrance, mantels and chair rails remain, although the central hall plan was partly altered in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Asa Goff bought the property in 1784, and the Goff family ran a dairy farm here until about 1920. Archaeological features include a possible original well and scattered 19th-century household debris.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to embody distinctive characteristics of Georgian period architecture. It also shows an uncommon and possibly local variation in chimney design, with two triangular, canted end chimneys. It is one of two known examples of this treatment in Rehoboth and the only one in a 2½-story wood frame house.
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 83000673, listed June 6, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 40 Maple Lane, Rehoboth |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | June 6, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000673 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; it is unclear whether Asa Goff built the house |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; the east chimney stack has been covered because of chimney fire damage, while the west stack is intact. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 41.84740, -71.22354 (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 83000673.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5577244
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.