Bryant-Cushing House
Why it's listed
Built in 1698 at 768 Main Street in Norwell, this two-story, center-chimney colonial house has changed very little in more than three centuries. Its five-bay shingled facade has a pedimented doorway with a transom of five bull's eye lights, and a large central chimney serves six fireplaces. Inside, the original floor plan, wide-plank floors, mantels and Jacobean stair banisters survive. The house was built by Thomas Bryant, a 23-year-old house carpenter and sawmill owner connected to the North River shipbuilding community, who later served as a magistrate and in the General Court. Its large scale, paneling and mouldings closely match the Winslow House of 1699 in Marshfield, which suggests Bryant may have built that house as well. The Bryant family held it until 1769, when it passed to the Cushing family. The only major alterations came in 1937-38, when utilities were installed and some plaster and floors were repaired. It is valued as a nearly unaltered late seventeenth century New England house.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as one of the best surviving examples of late seventeenth century architecture in New England, essentially unaltered since 1698. It closely resembles the 1699 Winslow House in Marshfield, and the form suggests Bryant may have built that house too. Its builder was a prosperous artisan tied to the North River shipbuilding community.
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 76001613, listed March 26, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 768 Main St., Norwell |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | March 26, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001613 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1698 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Bryant |
| Architectural style | New England Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and occupied as a private residence, with plumbing, heat and electricity added in 1937-38. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Norwell Village Area Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.15971, -70.78659 (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 76001613.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4980543
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.