Luther House
Why it's listed
Built around 1740, this house at 177 Market Street in North Swansea is a 1½-story, five-bay, center-entry gambrel cottage covered in wood shingle. It keeps a brick central chimney, interior gunstock corner posts, a five-light transom over the entrance, 12/12 window sash and a narrow shed-roofed dormer that appears original. Later changes include an east ell from the 19th century, two rear dormers, and a greenhouse added on the west side. Restoration of the main block and ell began in 1966. The house sits close to the road, with a stone wall and the foundations of several outbuildings nearby. It represents the dispersed farmsteads that characterized Old Swansea in the 18th century. The Luther family, local farmers descended from John Luther of Taunton, were long associated with the property and lived there until the mid-20th century. It was listed for its architecture as a locally significant Georgian cape.
Significance in brief: It is an intact example of the Georgian cape houses and dispersed farmsteads typical of 18th-century Old Swansea. The listing rests on architectural significance only (Criterion C). The house is also tied to the Luther farming family, who occupied it until the mid-20th century.
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 90000073, listed August 8, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 177 Market St., Swansea |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | August 8, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000073 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; believed built by either Nathaniel Luther (b. 1733) or Moses Luther (b. 1694) |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and used as a residence; main block and ell restored beginning in 1966. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 41.76447, -71.26855 (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 90000073.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1877834
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.