Woodworth House
Also known as: Old Oaken Bucket Homestead
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Why it's listed
Located on Old Oaken Bucket Road in Scituate, this farmstead centers on a one-and-one-half story Cape-style house, probably built between 1823 and 1835 in the late Federal manner. A rear ell, an ice room, a barn and a small former house, now called the southern ell, extend behind it. Later owners changed the house in stages. A central gable and ornate porch were added in the late nineteenth century. In the 1920s the Victorian trim gave way to simpler Craftsman details, a new wraparound porch, an exterior chimney and a rear shed dormer. The property is also tied to poet Samuel Woodworth, who lived briefly on the farm as a boy. His 1817 poem "The Old Oaken Bucket" is believed to have been inspired by the well, which has a well sweep and a roadside marker. The Woodworth family owned the site until 1972. Prehistoric artifacts have been recovered on the 15.7 acres, and further archaeological remains are considered likely. A museum now occupies the southern ell.
Significance in brief: The nomination finds the house locally significant under Criterion C as an illustration of a house evolving from a Federal beginning through Victorian and Craftsman alterations. It is described as unusual in Scituate for this evolution. It also has local cultural importance through its association with poet Samuel Woodworth and his poem "The Old Oaken Bucket," though this was not enough for Criterion B.
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 96000317, listed April 9, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 47 Old Oaken Bucket Rd., Scituate |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | April 9, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000317 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1800 - ca. 1930 |
| Architectural style | Federal; Victorian; Bungalow: Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition. The Scituate Historical Society operates a museum in the southern ell commemorating Samuel Woodworth. |
| Acreage | 15.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.17766, -70.75586 (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 96000317.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17040022
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.