Wheeler, Aaron, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1745 on Fairview Avenue in Rehoboth, this gambrel-roofed Georgian farmhouse sits about 300 feet from the road with its gable end facing the street. Aaron Wheeler (1722/23-1800) erected it soon after his father, Colonel Philip Wheeler, gave him a large tract of land in 1745. Wheeler farmed, bought a quarter share in a nearby sawmill in 1763 and held an interest in Peck's Forge. He and his son Simeon served in Revolutionary War campaigns. Stephen Bowen bought the house and part of the farm in 1818, and Bowen descendants have lived there since. The house is valued as one of Rehoboth's best preserved mid-18th-century gambrel cottages and one of few from the period securely dated by deeds. It keeps its original form, plan and architectural details. The bake oven's position in the east chamber and evidence from 1955 stabilization work suggest it began as an end-chimney house, with the west portion added later in the 18th century. A side ell was added in 1873.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of Rehoboth's best preserved mid-18th-century gambrel cottages and one of very few houses of the period securely dated through deed research. It keeps its original form, plan and interior and exterior details. It is also tied to Aaron Wheeler, a farmer, mill and forge investor and Revolutionary War participant.
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 83000730, listed June 6, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 371 Fairview Ave., Rehoboth |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | June 6, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000730 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is as a residence; stabilization work was carried out in 1955. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 41.87461, -71.22279 (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 83000730.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4662530
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.