Manning-Ball House
Why it's listed
This 1 1/2 story, post-and-beam house on Manning Street in Holden's Jefferson area is a three-quarter Cape Cod built about 1790, with a four-bay south facade, central chimney and granite block foundation. A wing was added around 1880, and two sheds project from the rear. Inside, the original plan survives in the Cape section, including wide-board wainscoting in the parlor, gunstock corner posts in the hall and a large kitchen fireplace with a restored beehive oven. Local history credits Captain Israel Manning, a Revolutionary War veteran and farmer, with building it. The Ball family later owned the farm, which grew to 130 acres and was used for broom making, poultry, dairy and squab production until 1947. It was listed for architecture because it is a rare three-quarter Cape in Holden and one of the town's least altered examples of the form. The surrounding open fields keep much of the historic setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent example of the three-quarter Cape Cod house form under Criterion C. It is one of only two known three-quarter Capes in Holden, where full five-bay and three-bay Capes predominate. Apart from the Rogers Homestead, it is among the least altered and best representations of the type in town.
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 95001442, listed December 13, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 370 Manning St., Town of Holden, Jefferson |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | December 13, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001442 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1790 - 1945 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (local history credits construction to Captain Israel Manning) |
| Architectural style | Early 19th Century; Other: Cape Cod |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently in use as a single-family dwelling; rehabilitated since 1965, with no surviving outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 42.38613, -71.83502 (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 95001442.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16894616
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.