McKinstry, William, Farmhouse
Why it's listed
This farmhouse at 361 Pleasant Street in Southbridge dates to about 1780 and is a one-and-a-half story, five-bay clapboard building with double chimneys. It stands on about three acres in a rural setting, with a barn at the rear and open fields across the street. Mid to late 19th-century alterations raised the roof and added a side extension, but the house keeps some 12/12 sash, transoms over the front and side entrances, and a six-paneled front door. Few houses from before 1816 survive in Southbridge without being turned into an ell of a larger farmhouse, and this is one of them. It was the second house built by William McKinstry, who arrived in the area, then part of Sturbridge, around 1748. His son William was born here in 1791, and descendants of the family settled much of this part of town during the 19th century. The house recalls the pre-industrial agricultural era and has remained in family occupancy.
Significance in brief: It is one of the few pre-1816 farmhouses in Southbridge not absorbed into a later, larger farmhouse as an ell. It reflects the settlement period and the lasting agricultural economy, and shows a regionally significant end-chimney variation of the Cape Cod house form. It was the second house built by early settler William McKinstry.
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 89000571, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 361 Pleasant St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000571 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival (New England Vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; in use as a residence, still occupied by McKinstry descendants. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 42.09133, -72.04115 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 89000571.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8015472
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.