House at 1 Bay Street
Also known as: Bay Village
Why it's listed
One Bay Street is a tiny brick Federal cottage in Boston's Bay Village, about 20 feet wide and 20 feet deep, rising two and a half stories. Housewrights and organ builders Benjamin and Joshua Bosworth built it around 1830 on a lot laid out by Ephraim Marsh. It is the only survivor of ten houses once lining Bay Street; the northern block was taken in 1908 for a school. The house reflects the style of Beacon Hill's grand homes at a reduced scale and cost, suited to the working-class residents of the district. Its brick walls, recessed paneled entry and multi-pane windows with louvered blinds remain, and the street retains brick sidewalks and granite curbs from the city's 1868 improvements, when buildings in the area were raised 18 feet. Long called the tiniest house in Boston, it appears in newspaper articles and walking tours. It was recognized for its architecture as a clear example of Bay Village residential building.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cottage embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type and period of construction under Criterion C. It is a small, simplified version of Beacon Hill's grand Federal homes, adapted for artisans and laborers. It is also the last surviving house on a street that once held ten residences, and is widely known as Boston's tiniest house.
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 93001573, listed February 9, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1 Bay St., Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | February 9, 1994 |
| Reference number | 93001573 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1830 - 1943 |
| Architect / builder | Benjamin & Joshua Bosworth |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling. The form notes alterations to the rear and interior, including a shed dormer added in 1991, while the primary features are retained. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34815, -71.06824 (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 93001573.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914063
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.