Lafayette-Durfee House
Why it's listed
Built around 1747 as a farmhouse by Thomas Durfee III, this two-and-a-half-story clapboard house at 94 Cherry Street in Fall River has a five-bay front, a center entrance with a Georgian door surround, and a rear ell that gives it an L shape. Inside, Federal style woodwork was added in the late 1700s or early 1800s, while boxed beams and corner posts reflect earlier construction. The house began on the east side of the old Newport-to-Boston highway, was moved across the street in 1837 when the road was widened, and was moved to its present site in 1876 after a brick residence was built on its lot. Durfee served in the Massachusetts General Court and the Governor's Council. His son Col. Joseph Durfee commanded patriots in the 1778 Battle of Fall River and hosted the Marquis de Lafayette on trips between Newport and Boston, giving the house its name. A historical foundation has owned and restored it since 1973.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the quality of its Georgian design and its historical associations. Thomas Durfee III was a prominent state legislator and Governor's Council member. His son Col. Joseph Durfee led patriots in the 1778 Battle of Fall River, and his friendship with the Marquis de Lafayette gave the house its name.
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 82004959, listed April 15, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 94 Cherry St., Fall River |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | April 15, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004959 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architectural style | Georgian exterior detailing, with Federal style interior alterations |
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Under restoration by the Lafayette-Durfee Historical Foundation, which bought it in 1973; used as a house museum. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.70601, -71.15664 (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 82004959.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715658
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.