87 River St MACRIS 2016Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System
Scanned Record Cover Page
Inventory No: YAR.334
Historic Name: Matthews, Capt. Howes H. House
Common Name:
Address: 87 River St
City/Town: Yarmouth
Village/Neighborhood: South Yarmouth Village; Bass River
Local No: 350
Year Constructed: c 1790
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s): Colonial; No style
Use(s): Secondary Dwelling House; Single Family Dwelling House
Significance: Architecture
Area(s): YAR.H: South Yarmouth - Bass River Historic District
Designation(s): Nat'l Register District (512911990)
Building Materials(s): Wall: Wood Clapboard; Wood Shingle; Wood
Foundation: Brick
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FORINI B - BUILDING
In Area no. Form no.
N �`h
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Office of the Secretary, State House,
Boston
3 3
Yarmouth
'
wn
Bass:iver
dress
87 River Street
Ime
f ,
esent use
Private residence
Aesent
owner Robert Philla
r ,
E
scription:
•
■
to
c. 1790
4. Map. Draw sketch of building location
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north.
11 .
a
o r o t�-�-
ary ! Seven
Chimneys
R
i
V
e
r
I� S Private drive
t
j, r
e LJ
e
t
Willow Street
q7M-7-77 %
(over)
Source Owner and Rod Crowell
le Federal and Greek Rev,
Architect
Clapboards belot
Exterior wall fabric dec. shingle abs
Original shed
Outbuildings (describe) and barn
Large two story struc•
Other features ture with Mortise—tens
construction an a arge wo s ori
back extension with chimney. Also
a large more modern si a addition-
and
i ionand a closed in porch.
See
Altered descrintion Date
Early
Moved Date 1800's
5. Lot size:
One acre or less X Over one acre
Approximate frontage 45
Approximate distance of building from stree
451
6. Recorded by D Elrick
Yarmouth Historical
Organization Surve�;,
Date j anuary 1950
7. Original owner (if known) Cantain Tlowes H. '4atthews
Original use Home
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates Summer residence, 1902 - 1919
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal
Conservation
Recreation
Agricultural
Education
Religion
Architectural ,;
Exploration/
Science/
The Arts
settlement
invention
Commerce
Industry
Social/
Communication
Military
humanitarian
Community development T_
Political
Transportation .z
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) )
Like many of the houses that made un the Lower Village during the early}
19th century, this structure was moved from elsewhere and lovingly placed
upon its present site. According to oral tradition, (and in this case it
is likely and believable) this house came from Nantucket. Present as
early as 1858 it was probably moved by Howes Hallett Matthews (1809-1873)
who wit's his wife and growing family took up residence 'sere which lasted
through all of the rest of the century.
Howes was :parried to Sasha Lewis, the daughter of Roland, (see form 4 351
in 1836 and it is upon that date that the time of the moving of the house
also falls, for a man needs a house to bring a bride to and feu existed
at the Lower village during this time.
Howes, one of eleven, towards the end, was born to Ezekiel and Lydia
Matthews who lived nearby with so manly of the like name.... The Lower
Village later came to be known as Matthews Village.... Although at
present the site of the parents homestead is not known, many of the
children's homes are. including Freeman, Enoch, David and Henry Hatthews
along with _loges and their sisters, the siblings prospered as ship master!
storekeepers and housewives to the betterment of the entire town.
Upon his death in 1873, Howes, who had been an anchor dragger captain,
left a sizable estate. Although it did not match that of his father-
in-law Roland Lewis's, it came close. Howes had most of his money Lied
up in stocks: 18 shares of the Cape Cod Dank of Harwich worth $2124.00
and 12 shares of the First National Bank of Yarmouth worth $1560.00. He
also owned 1/45 of the schooner "S.'.. Laui" anDraised a:: 572.92, 1/3 of
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
A. 1858 Tri -County `lap, Walling, Boston
B. 1880 and 1907 Atlases of Barnstahle County, walker, Boston
C. Probate of Howes Matthews 4 629.1 Darnstable County Probate records
D. "Yesterday's Tide", Florence Baker, 1941
R. Robert Philla of 87 River Street
F. "Yarmouth Vital Records", Society of Mayflower Descendants, Warwick,
Rhode Tsland, 1975
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUxiION SHEET
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL CCWSSION
Office of the Secretary, I :on
Community: Forn No:
Yarmouth '33-0
,Property Name:
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
the sloop "Thorn" worth $10.00. Added to this his real estate and other
personal property made his total, estate $571!'_-.92t a very good fortune
indeed for any roan of the period.
Since the passing of that branch of the Matthews family, the house has
been owned by a handful of people who have done extensive work on the
structure so that today it is totally different from what it had been
durina Howes=s era.
Sometime after the turn of the 20th century the original house was jacked
up and a whole additional floor was put in on the ground level. Whether
it was under the ownership of Nelson Eldridge, (see form # 341), William
Henry Brown, (see form-# 352), or the Doctor Wittaker family, is not
known, but it is thought that each successive owner added something -
a touch of style or an extra room - and in so doing, put a piece of himsel
into the very material of the house.
Presently Bob Phill.a, a local teacher owns the propertlr and he is busy
at every free moment with improving his home. Perhaps with owners
such as he the house will continue along.
Staple to�Inventory form at bottom