Luther, William, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1849 at 79 Old Warren Road in Swansea, this 1½-story, five-bay, center-chimney cape is a late example of a house type built in the town since the mid-18th century. Greek Revival details set it apart from earlier capes: a clapboard facade, shingled side and rear walls, cornerboards, 6/6 window sash and a vertical board entry door without glazing. A rear ell and covered porch were added in the late 19th or early 20th century. William Luther bought the lot in 1848 and sold it a year later with a dwelling. The Luther family kept scattered farms and were known for commercial buildings at nearby Luther's Corner. The Buffington family acquired the house in 1879 and held it until 1946. Deacon Stephen Buffington served in the Legislature, belonged to the Christian Church for 76 years and was known for his gardens and handmade baskets. His descendant George ran a blacksmith shop at Luther's Corner. The house is considered locally significant for its architecture and for these associations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an intact, late example of the traditional Swansea cape form, built in the Greek Revival style (Criterion C). It is also a farmstead tied to the locally prominent Luther family and later the Buffington family, who contributed to life at Swansea Center (Criterion A). 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 90000067, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 79 Old Warren Rd., Swansea |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000067 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; in use as a residence, with a garage dating to about 1920. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.74622, -71.22052 (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 90000067.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8014796
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.