Cushing Homestead
Why it's listed
Set among orchards, meadows and low stone walls in Hingham, this farm centers on a clapboard house built in 1678 by Daniel Cushing for his son Peter. The house was originally one and a half stories and was raised a full story, probably by the early 18th century. Two rooms keep an unusually high concentration of 17th century detail, including two walls of molded sheathing and a ceiling with yellow-on-black sponge painting, a decorative technique of which few examples survive in Massachusetts. West of the house stand a forge, a corncrib on stone piers and a barn considered the oldest framed barn known in New England, possibly incorporating beams from Hingham's first meetinghouse. Across East Street lie a field, a dam, a raceway from an early mill site and the remains of an Indian fishing station. Title has passed down the male line for three centuries, and the 15.26 acres are still farmed, which underlies its listing for architecture and agriculture.
Significance in brief: It is one of a small number of documented 17th century houses in Massachusetts, and one of very few passed down in the male line for three centuries. The interior keeps an unusual concentration of 17th century detail, including molded sheathing and early sponge painting. The barn is described as the oldest framed barn known in New England, and the property remains an active farm.
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 73000326, listed June 4, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Cohasset on MA 128, Hingham |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | June 4, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000326 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 17th and 18th Century (specific date 1678) |
| Architect / builder | Daniel Cushing (builder, for his son Peter) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition and unaltered; the fields are still tilled annually and the outbuildings still serve their original purposes. |
| Acreage | 15.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.23751, -70.86232 (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 73000326.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5196189
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.