Cary, Otis, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1837, this five-bay Greek Revival farmhouse at 242 South Street in Foxboro rises 2 1/2 stories under a gable roof, with a rear ell and a mid-19th-century barn linked by a breezeway. Vinyl siding covers most of the exterior, but the molded window frames, pilastered corner boards, deep frieze and cornice survive, and the interior keeps fireplaces with fluted pilasters, paneled doors and wide-board floors. The house was built for Otis Cary (1804-1888), who bought the Mill Street Iron Foundry in 1834 and later dealt in the Nason Cotton Mill. He also donated land and money for a school, served in the state legislature and as a selectman, and led local banks and a railroad company. His foundry and the mill are gone, so the house is among the few remaining links to Foxboro's early industry. His son Otis Cary Jr., a missionary in Japan, and grandson Frank Boyden, longtime headmaster of Deerfield Academy, were both born here.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the beginnings of industrialization in Foxboro through Otis Cary, a manufacturer, local politician and community leader. His foundry and mill no longer exist, so the house is one of the few surviving structures from that period. It is also a good example of a vernacular Greek Revival farmhouse.
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 86000379, listed March 13, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 242 South St., Foxboro |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | March 13, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000379 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition; exterior covered in vinyl siding that leaves the original details intact. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.04510, -71.25942 (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 86000379.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7108766
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.