Norton House
Why it's listed
Built around 1779, this farmhouse at 61 Old Providence Road in Swansea is a vernacular Georgian dwelling of two and a half stories with a side-gabled roof, five-bay facade, central entrance, central chimney and double-pile plan. Wood shingles cover the walls, windows hold 12/12 sash, and the doorway has an elliptical fan, transom and sidelights that may be a later Federal-period addition. It was probably built by a member of the Barney family, who settled nearby, and is among the earliest intact houses in northern Swansea. It sits on a colonial road linking Swansea with Providence, Rhode Island. After the Barney shipyard closed in 1861, nearby Barneyville turned to jewelry manufacturing. Benjamin F. Norton, who bought the business in 1911 and renamed it North Swansea Manufacturing Co., lived here. The house declined after the company ended in the early 1920s and was restored in 1966. It was recognized for its architecture and its link to village history.
Significance in brief: The house is an intact example of the traditional five-bay, center-entry, central-chimney Georgian form in Swansea and one of the earliest intact houses in the town's northern section. It is also tied to the growth of Barneyville and to Benjamin F. Norton, part-owner of a jewelry-manufacturing company there in the early 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 90000078, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 61 Old Providence Rd., Swansea |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000078 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition with no major alterations; used as a residence and antique shop. It fell into disrepair after the 1920s and was restored in 1966. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.77257, -71.27352 (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 90000078.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7060641
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.