24 River St MACRISMassachusetts Cultural Resource Information System
Scanned Record Cover Page
Inventory No:
Historic Name:
Common Name:
Address:
YAR 323
Robbins, Capt. Alexander House
24 River St
City/Town:
Yarmouth
Village/Neighborhood:
Bass River
Local No:
326
Year Constructed:
c 1835
Architect(s):
Architectural5tyle(s): Federal
Use(s): Single Family Dwelling House
Significance: Architecture
Area(s): YAR.H: South Yarmouth - Bass River Historic District
Designation(s): Nat'I Register District (5/2911990)
Building Materials(s): Wall: Wood Clapboard; Wood
Foundation: Brick
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This file was accessed on:
Monday, March 02, 2015 at 4:31: PM
FORM B - BUILDING
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
4. Map. Draw sketch of building location
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north.
W
0
0
d
Bap.
R ch.
d ti—
Main
-Main Street
C3
Morning Dr.
I 30M-5-77
R 10
i �
V
e
r
S
t
r
e
e
t
(over)
! In Area no. Form no.
426
Yarmouth
own (Bass Riverl
ddress 24 River Street
Private residence
esent owner Thomas E. Armstrong!
Source Sight
le Federal
Architect
Pale yellow
Exterior wall fabric—clapboard.
1 story barn wit'
Outbuildings (describe) shed addition
Narrow two story desig.
Other features w a larcle two story e
back addition leading to summer
kitchen. Main entrance is i de ted
in porch on street facing side.
There are 6 6 nd 6 3 w' nd_ ows,a
Altered Extensive Datepre-1900
Moved Date
5. Lot size..
one acre or less x Over one acre
Approximate frontage 351
Approximate distance of building from street
5'
6. Recorded by Don Elrick
Yarmouth Historical
Organization Survey
Date Jamuary 1984
* brick foundation. There are eye
brow windows on back addition. Thi
addition has another continued
extensir with chimney.
7. Original owner (if known) Captain Alexander Robbins
Original use Homestead
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal
Conservation
Recreation
Agricultural
Education
Religion
ArcMtecturai
X Exploration/
Science/
The Arts
settlement
invention
Commerce
Industry
Social/
Communication
Military
humanitarian
Community development
x Political
Transportation
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
This house, an original to this part of River Street, differs from many
other ,houses nearby in that it was probably not moved from elsewhere.
on the 1858 map it stands out, virtually alone on its side of the road
from main Street down to its site. it is in fact the first house on the
road which can truly be considered an original part of that section
called the "Lower Village".
The village, an area of ship masters, salt manufacturers and others who
generally took their living from the sea, seems quite old; and there is
even a chance that it may pre -date the rest of Bass River, (although
this is not likely). If not, then the growth of the "Upper Villager°
and this place were simultaneous to a large degree.
Herein this house Captain Alexander Robbins lived and here his wife,
Deborah, one son and three daughters waited for his returns from the
sea. These were heralded first in their village, so close to the mouth
of the river. Robbins would be gone for long periods on numerous
foriegn voyages and when he was sighted his family would be some of the
first to know. The captain's commands included the three Masted schoone
Henry B. 6lithington and later the off shore schooner `Martha N. Hale,
The fact that Robbins was still living in the house when he died in
1893 is enough to allow us to credit him with numerous additions all
dating from before his demise. After his wife died in 1903 their
children continued to Own the house and passed it on one more generation
before it went out of the family.
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
A. 1858 Tri—County Map, Walling, Boston
B. 1880 and 1907 Atlases of Barnstable County, Walker, Boston
C. Deed book 1226, p. 47, Barnstable County Probate Building
D. VYesterday' s Tide", Florence 117. Baker, 1941