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Inventory No: YAR.385
Historic Name: Howes, Capt. Abner House
Common Name:
Address: 123 Old Main St
CityrTown:
Yarmouth
Village/Neighborhood:
South Yarmouth Village; Bass River
Local No:
304
Year Constructed:
c1790
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s):
Georgian; Second Empire
Use(s):
Single Family Dwelling House
Significance: Architecture
Area(s): YAR.H: South Yarmouth - Bass River Historic District
Designation(s): Nat'l Register District (05/2911990)
Roof: Wood Shingle
Building Materials(s): Wall: Wood; Wood Shingle
Foundation: Brick
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This file was accessed on: Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 9:21: AM
FORM B - BUILDING
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
In Area no. Form no.
#�
Yarmouth
own "(Bass River)
ddress 123 Main Street
s► ame
+ resent use
, resent owner Janet J. Traub
Private residence
scription:
ate c. 1790 and c. 1865
sight,deeEls
Source vital records
_. eorgian an
A yle French Second Empire
4. Map. Draw sketch of building location Architect
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north. Exterior wall fabric Wood shingles
Outbuildings (describe)
The whole house is a
Other features b ' t ' f t
0
0
13
30M-5-77
ror.tr.ea!i Road
Ha
a n
i
n
t Q
r
e Q
e
t Q
. 1W
Carrie Lane
(over)
l
com xAL ion- a wo
separate styles; Georgian Cape type
f aces appro_-ximately South while a
full Mansard roofed extension comes
out from the north face. 2/2 --window
Georgian house w/adjoining
Altered Windows Date
Moved Mansard Date
5. Lot size:
One acre or less X Over one acre
Approximate frontage 701
Approximate distance of building from street
55'
6. Recorded by Don Elrick
Yarmouth Historical
Organization Survey
Date November 1979
* smaller windows in gable end.
Mansard has summer kitchen,-Additinr.
and heavily pedimented caps over,
doorways and windows.
7. Original owner (if known) Abner Howes
Original use Homestead
Subsequent uses (if any) and dates
8. Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal
Conservation
Recreation.
Agricultural
Education
Religion
Architectural
Exploration/
Science/
The Arts
settlement
1, invention
Commerce X
Industry
Social/
Communication
Military
humanitarian
Community development X
Political
Transportation X
9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) !�
in 1840 the administrator of the estate of Captain Abner Howes, Freeman t
Baker, sold HoTfRs's piece of property, (his full 99 rods as it remained
through the 19 century), to Captain Darnabas Eldridge. In the same
deed, reference was made also to the house, which was beclueathed to
Rebecca Eldridge, wife of Darnabas; " the improvement of so much of the
said dwelling house as was set off to her... in the estate of Abner
Howes".
Khat the relationship between Rebecea and Abner was, can not be said.
Why she should he given this house and not the land and why her husband
bought the rest of the property, are unanswered. She could have been
Howes's daughter or perhaps his remarried widow, (as his marriage to
Rebecca Baker in 1830 might indicate). Whatever the case, like Howes,
Rebecca also outlived her husband Eldridge.
In 1846 Rebecca was alone again and this time a widow for sure; bereaved
perhaps, but with a large estate that totaled $3,062.75. The inventory
of the estate was compiled by a committee between 1846 and 1848 and is
a good example of the assets, costs and accomodations of the mid-century
ship's master. Taking into consideration that this captain was still
relatively young, since his wife lasted until at least 1880 his
posessions were truly extensive.
Perhaps his largest investment was the schooner Middlesex, 5/8 of which
cost him $1,200; the insurance alone cost $100. He had other ships as
well: 1/6 of the schooner Wellington worth $75.00 and 1/8 of the
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
A. 1858 Tri -County Map, Walling, Boston
B. 18€30 and 1907 Atlases of Barnstable County, Boston
C. Deed books: 507, p. 355; 26,,0. 317
D. Probate record # 20731 Barnabas Eldridge
E. "Yesterday's Tide", Florence Baker, 1941
F. vital `lecords of Yarmouth, Ma., Warwick, Rhode Island, 1975
,INVENTORY FORM CONTING. .ION SHEET
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL, C `ESSION
Office of the Secretary, b" ton
ii.ty
South Yarmouth
( t' s 1.iver )
ty Name:
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being 'continued below.
Form No.
.-3-04-
schooner Maria worth $150.00. It's obvious that there was much dif-
ference between schooners and what one was willing to invest in them.
It would be interesting to compare Eldridge's ships and to see which,
if any, he hi,maelfw.commanded.
Barnabas Eldridge's other possessions are also interesting and north
a good Look for comparison with todays prices. His house, for instance,
which at the time was quite old, was appraised at $350.00; his barn at
$75.00; and his four beds and their accouterments at $65.00. He was a
religious man so he paid for a pew at the "Universalist Meeting House",
1/3 of which cost him $3.00. At the time as it had been before and is
today, land was how a man measured his wealth. Eldridge owned one acre
of woodland that was worth $30.00 and eight acres worth $56.00, which
was brush and woodland.
Barnahas Eldridge was also owed money by various people, one of whom,
Simeon Crowell, (see form # 164), was the founder of the Baptist Church.
Crowell who was also a retired ship's captain, owed Eldridge $100.00.
Unlike some debts which were deemed "doubtful", that which Crowell
owed was sound. After all he was a member of the committee of
appraisers who were in charge of the whole affair.
The house itself, or rather the one structure referred to above, is no
longer alone on its piece of property. It is in fact, in close union
with a tRtally different structure. The first house was built in the
late 18 century by Howes or someone unknown. The second house which
was probably moved to its site after the death of Rebecca Eldridge,
is a French Second Empire structure built sometime in the 1860's. Who
moved the second house to the spot and connected it to the first Cape
type house is unknown. The clash of styles is extremely unusual and
not at all represented elsewhere in town. It is most deffinitely worth
a closer look and a bit more research to answer the unanswered.
t.
In closing it should be mentioned that once again, that this section of �.
this side of Maii_n Street was populated by wealthy retired and semi-- `
retired ship's masters. The area from Hatzel Crosby's house dawn to
a about River Street developed between 1830 and 1870; with some exceptions.
Most of this house, although pre -dating this period, was never the less
owned by one of these captains. Lowes, perhaps a generation earlier
than the others, did not build the predominant Greek revival structures
the other masters favored. He lived in this Georgian, here, long before
the Greer, revival structures existed and contemplated the future of the
village and possibilities of the modern era. (The Mansard did not exist
before 1860 at the earliest) See fora # 305.
`� Staple to Inventory form at bottom