Martin House and Farm
Why it's listed
Martin House and Farm in North Swansea, Massachusetts, is an 18th century farm complex built around a one-and-one-half story gambrel-roofed house that John Martin built in 1728. The shingled house has a stone foundation and a massive central chimney, and a small ell was added around 1814. The nominated land holds the main house, two small secondary buildings used as residences and two barns, set among cultivated fields, orchards and woodlots enclosed by original dry stone walls. Members of the Martin family lived and farmed here for 206 years, until the last of them left the property to the Colonial Dames in 1934. It has since operated as a museum house, with a working loom, spinning wheels, antique pewter, English Jacobean furniture and other colonial-era items, while a local farmer works the land. Its significance rests on being a rare colonial farm still on its original site, and on its woodlands, which serve as a conservation area in a suburban setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare 18th century working farm that keeps the character of its original setting. The Martin family lived and farmed here for 206 years until 1934. It is one of few colonial-era structures still on its original site in the area, and its woodlands serve as a conservation area in a growing suburban section.
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 78000437, listed October 2, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 22 Stoney Hill Rd., North Swansea |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | October 2, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000437 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1728 |
| Architect / builder | John Martin |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained as a farm and house museum by the Society of Colonial Dames; the land continues to be worked by a local farmer. Form lists the property as occupied. |
| Acreage | 19 |
| Coordinates | 41.76402, -71.25945 (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 78000437.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715699
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.