Fairbanks House
Why it's listed
Set at the corner of Eastern Avenue and East Street in Dedham, this timber house began as a two-story frame dwelling with a hall and parlor downstairs and two bedchambers above, built around 1636-38 by Jonathan Fayerbanke after his arrival from Yorkshire, England. A rear lean-to was added later in the 1600s. Two gambrel-roofed wings followed, traditionally dated about 1641 and 1654, and both were probably finished by his death in 1668. The oak frame is of the upright type, and some authorities say its timbers came from England. The house is valued as a well-preserved example of how seventeenth-century homes grew in stages as families prospered, and it may be the oldest surviving frame dwelling in the country. It has remained in the Fairbanks family for more than 300 years. Since 1903 the family association has maintained it as a museum. Damage from a 1964 car crash and a 1967 fire was repaired.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the earliest and finest preserved examples of the organic growth many houses underwent in seventeenth-century medieval design, whether or not it is the oldest frame dwelling in the United States. It has stayed in the Fairbanks family throughout its existence, linking it directly to the past.
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 66000367, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Eastern Ave. and East St., Dedham |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000367 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1636-38 |
| Architect / builder | Jonathan Fayerbanke (Johnathan Fayerbanke), builder |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated October 9, 1960 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a house museum by the Fairbanks Family in America, Inc.; described as in good condition, with fieldstone foundation restoration under way. A caretaker's cottage on the property does not contribute to its significance. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 42.24293, -71.16803 (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 66000367.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5430017
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.