Harlow Old Fort House
Why it's listed
Built in 1677 on a small knoll beside the old highway from Plymouth to the Cape, this shingled two-story gambrel cottage was the home of Sergeant William Harlow, who received the land from the town in 1669. Harlow framed the house with oak timbers from Plymouth's first fort, built in 1622 and dismantled after King Philip's War. Mortises from the fort's frame can still be seen in the beams, and a strap hinge from the fort gate was found in one of them. The Great Hall has exposed gunstock posts and a large brick fireplace with an original oak lintel, though the chimney and interior partitions were restored in 1920. A Dutch-type sandstone sink survives in the scullery. Harlow served Plymouth as surveyor of highways, excise officer, selectman and deputy to the General Court. The house stayed in the Harlow family and its connections for 224 years and now operates as a museum.
Significance in brief: It is one of the oldest houses in Plymouth and remained in the Harlow family and its connections for 224 years. It was framed with oak timbers salvaged from the town's first fort of 1622. It is also significant as the home of William Harlow, a prominent colonial townsman and selectman.
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 74001762, listed December 27, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 119 Sandwich St., Plymouth |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | December 27, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001762 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1677 |
| Architect / builder | William Harlow |
| Architectural style | Gambrel cottage |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition given as good and altered; used as a museum by the Plymouth Antiquarian Society. Great Hall chimney and interior partitions were restored in 1920. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.95200, -70.65675 (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 74001762.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5658977
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.