Tobey Homestead
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Wareham Narrows at the junction of Main Street and Sandwich Road, this three-story house began around 1825 as a five-bay, center-entry Federal residence built by Jared Pratt, a nail manufacturer. Around 1870, after the death of owner Joshua Briggs Tobey, it was remodelled with a dormered mansard roof, a columned entry portico, bays and a sun porch, giving it a Second Empire appearance while keeping its Federal plan, mantels, shutters and staircase. The Tobey family, whose Tremont Nail Company came to dominate local nail manufacturing, lived here for decades. Alice Tobey Jones left the property for use as Wareham's first hospital; instead it became a nurses' residence in 1940 beside a new hospital building. A 1985 fire burned part of the rear ell, and the house stood vacant. It is considered the only Second Empire building in Wareham's center and a waterfront landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally significant as a combination of Federal-period plan and details with well-executed Second Empire additions, and the only Second Empire-style building in Wareham's center. It is historically significant for its association with the Tobey family, whose iron and nail manufacturing and philanthropy shaped Wareham's 19th-century development. It later became Wareham's hospital-related property.
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 86001219, listed June 5, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St. and Sandwich Rd., Wareham |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | June 5, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001219 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1825-1922 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built ca. 1825 by Jared Pratt, according to the narrative) |
| Architectural style | Federal with Second Empire remodelling |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and deteriorated after a 1985 fire damaged the rear ell and outbuildings; previously used as a nurses' residence from 1940 until 1985. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.75671, -70.71353 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 86001219.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715885
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.