Morse-Barber House
Why it's listed
This house at 46 Forest Street in Sherborn has an early core that may date to about 1674, possibly making it the town's oldest surviving structure. Land for the original dwelling came from Nicholas Wood, who received a grant in 1652, and his daughter Mahitable and her husband Joseph Morse built on part of the farm after their 1671 marriage. The Morse home served as Sherborn's first meetinghouse for as many as 100 settlers until a church was built in the early 1680s. By 1753 the Barber family owned it, and they kept it until the late 19th century. The main block was enlarged about 1814 to a five-bay, 2 1/2-story form with a rear ell, and Greek Revival touches were added about 1835, including a pedimented entablature and sidelights at the central door. A large frame barn was built about 1847. The property was listed for its architecture, its archaeological potential and its association with Sherborn's early development.
Significance in brief: The house may be the oldest structure in Sherborn and is tied to the early Wood and Morse families, who were among the town's first grantees. Its 1814 enlargement and ca. 1835 Greek Revival treatments show changing building practices and tastes in a rural community. The form also cites its link to Sherborn's early development patterns.
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 86000493, listed January 3, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 46 Forest St., Sherborn |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | January 3, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000493 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period/Georgian with Greek Revival decorative elements (Federal-period form and massing) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; the form states the building retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.22066, -71.35600 (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 86000493.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6914234
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.