White Homestead-Salem Cross Inn
Why it's listed
This farmstead on Ware Road in West Brookfield began on land granted to Sergeant John White in 1707. He built a small one-story clapboard house there, with a large cooking fireplace, a borning room and walls lined with handmade brick. It was later converted to a carriage shed and moved behind the main house around 1960. His sons John and Cornelius built the 2-story Colonial main house and a large barn about 1740. The house has a hip roof, a large central chimney, original pine floors, raised paneling and a kitchen with its crane still in place. Twentieth-century ells link the house to the barn, and the property now operates as the Salem Cross Inn, named for hex marks on the entrance door hardware. The site is notable as a remnant of Brookfield's early resettlement and for its 18th-century buildings. It was also home to John White, killed in the 1710 attack, and to missionaries Adeline White Tracy and Sarah White Smith.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance for architecture and for associations with the White family. The 1707 structure is one of the last survivors from the second settlement of Brookfield, and the 1740 house and barn are excellently restored 18th-century buildings in their original rural setting. The home is also tied to John White, a garrison officer killed in 1710, and to his descendants Sarah White Smith and Adeline White Tracy, early missionaries.
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 09000619, listed April 14, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW side of Ware Rd. (MA 9), West Brookfield |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | April 14, 1975 |
| Reference number | 09000619 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | John White; John and Cornelius White |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operating as a restaurant (the Salem Cross Inn); the 1707 structure was moved behind the main house c.1960 and its chimney removed. |
| Acreage | 60 |
| Coordinates | 42.24437, -72.17326 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 09000619.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17066364
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.