WITCH (catboat)
Also known as: GYPSY, Crowninshield Design #149, WREN
Why it's listed
Built in the winter of 1900-01 at the A.C. Howland boatyard in Monument Beach, this wooden catboat was one of four sister boats made to Crowninshield Design #149 by naval architect B. B. Crowninshield. Originally named Witch and now called Gypsy, it has a white cedar hull on white oak frames, a centerboard, a spoon bow and long overhangs shaped by the racing rules of its day. Its first owners, the Howes family, raced it informally against the other three boats during summers on Bass River, Cape Cod, and a family diary records those contests. A conversion from gaff rig to Marconi rig around 1939-45 kept it competitive. Later repairs and strengthening have left roughly 30-40% of the original material, including the keel and bronze deck fittings. It was listed for its association with recreational sailing history and as a representative work of a noted designer. It may be the oldest surviving Crowninshield design, and it has remained in family recreational use for over a century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the boat is significant under Criterion A for its link to the social history of recreational sailing and racing, shaped by the growth of Cape Cod summer communities. Under Criterion C, it is a representative catboat and one-design yacht by a master designer, with an adaptation to the Marconi rig around 1939-45. It may be the oldest surviving Crowninshield design and is among the oldest actively sailed yachts in the United States.
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 08000533, listed June 18, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 35 Lydia Island Rd., Wareham |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | June 18, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000533 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1901-1958 |
| Architect / builder | Bowdoin Bradlee (B.B.) Crowninshield; built by A.C. Howland & Co., Monument Beach |
| Architectural style | Catboat |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structurally in fair condition and cosmetically in good condition per a 2004 report; sailed on Buzzards Bay every summer but two from 1949 through 2007 and stored in a boathouse in the off-season. About 30-40% of original material remains. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.73695, -70.66082 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
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 08000533.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16975370
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.