Bartlett-Russell-Hedge House
Also known as: Plymouth Federal Savings and Loan Association
Why it's listed
Built around 1803 at the corner of Court Street and North Russell Street in Plymouth, this three-story painted brick house is a Federal-style building with a hipped roof and an octagonal cupola. Its front portico has slender cloverleaf columns and a balustraded roof, and a Palladian window sits above it. Inside, an elliptical cantilevered staircase rises to the cupola, and the original mantels and paneling survive. Captain Joseph Bartlett, a shipowner and merchant, had it built. It later served briefly as the Old Colony Hotel, then as the home of iron manufacturer Nathaniel Russell and his descendants, the Hedge family. John Bartlett, later publisher of Familiar Quotations, spent part of his early childhood there. A savings and loan association bought the property in 1951, added a low one-story wing, and restored the portico to its original form. The building was listed for its Federal architecture, its occupants' influence on Plymouth, and its adaptation to commercial use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the house is a classic example of the Federal style with great architectural merit. It also credits its occupants with a significant role in Plymouth's economic and social development, and it presents the house as a thoughtful reuse of a residence for commercial purposes.
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 76001614, listed April 30, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 32 Court St., Plymouth |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | April 30, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001614 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1803 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition. The first and second floors are used as bank offices and the third floor is rented to two accounting firms. The house was altered in 1951 with a one-story addition and a reconstructed front portico. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.95771, -70.66679 (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 76001614.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4865381
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.