Howland, Jabez, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1667, this saltbox house on Sandwich Street in Plymouth began as a two-room, three-bay dwelling with an oak frame, gunstock posts and a summer beam. Jabez Howland, son of Mayflower passenger John Howland, bought it from Jacob Mitchell in 1668. In 1750 a one-room-over-one-room unit was added to the west, giving the facade four bays. The larger 12/12 windows of the addition contrast with the small leaded casements of the original section, and a clustered chimney marks the dividing point between the two halves. A restoration in 1941-42 lowered the older roof to its original steep pitch and replaced the leaded casement sash. The house matters mainly for its Howland family link and tradition that it is the only standing house that heard the voices of John and Elizabeth Howland. It was the first house in Plymouth to be saved, bought by the Pilgrim John Howland Society in 1912 and opened to the public.
Significance in brief: The house is chiefly significant for its connection with the Howland family, as Jabez Howland was the son of Mayflower passenger John Howland. It was also the first house in Plymouth to be saved for preservation. It is further noted as a good example of two architectural periods combined in one structure.
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 74002032, listed October 9, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 33 Sandwich St., Plymouth |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | October 9, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002032 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 17th and 18th centuries (specific dates 1667, 1750) |
| Architectural style | Saltbox house with 17th-century first-period section and 1750 addition |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition, altered, on its original site; restored in 1941-42 and used as an office for the owning society. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.95462, -70.66248 (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 74002032.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6110140
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.