62 Pleasant St MACRISMassachusetts Cultural Resource Information System
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Inventory No: YAR.427
Historic Name:
Common Name: Little White House, The
Address: 62 Pleasant St
Cityliown:
Yarmouth
Village/Neighborhood:
South Yarmouth Village; Bass River
Local No:
253
Year Constructed:
c1780
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s):
Colonial
Use(s):
Parsonage; Single Family Dwelling House
Significance: Architecture; Religion
Area(s): YAR.H: South Yarmouth - Bass River Historic District
Designation(s): Nat'l Register District (0 512 911 9 9 0)
Building Materials(s): Wall: Wood; Wood Shingle
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This file was accessed on: Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at 1:38: PM
FORM B - BUILDING
(MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL C01MIMISSION
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
4. Map. Draw sketch of building location
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. lndi;;ate north,
Akin Avenue
Wing Avenue
Q
37M-7-77
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a
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In Area no. Fur in no.
South Yarmouth
ass 62 Pleasant Street
Little White House
�nt use Private residence
I
Style Georgian
Architect
Exterior wall fabric -shite mod.iles
2 small buildLh6v
Outbuildings (describe) _jA!p �T#
g_ __X_, _rgtj_
Difficult to define house type
Other features._Mjtk two of
original structure. There are two main
_Qatzanggg -9n the xfont facing e a t -Street. __ _n _g_�
Contral chimney and chimney in front addition.
Altered X Date
13
a 'Moved, X Date 1960's
a 5. Lot sizc�
R one acre or less X Over one acre
v Approximate froutage_
e
r Approximate distance of building from street
35'
6. Recorded by-. DoA Elriok
Organization Ya=outh Historical Survey
0
Date- October 1979
nt owner Shirley C. Florian asof1978
iption-
a. 1780
sight
7. Original owner (if known)
Original use
Subsequent uses (if any) and datesye al�c�uir 7E�53 – rflic3€�nc sir�c�
S, Themes (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal
Conservation
Recreation
Agricultural
Education
X Religion
X
Architectural X�
Exploration/
Science/
The Arts
settlement
invention
Commerce X
industry
Social/
W_
Communication
Military
humanitarian
_ X
Community development X
Political
Transportation
X-
9. Historical significance (include
explanation of themes checked above)
This building was moved at least twice from, the
time of its construction.
Up until 1853
however, it is not lmown who
liven in the house,
or when specifically it
was built; so
prior to that date the structure may have seen additional
moves.
In 1853 or there abouts, when the new Methodist Church was constructed., this house was
situated near or next to that church at its site on Plain Street. There it served as the
parsonage and housed the "New Methodist"s" first minister, the Reverend Henry Aston.
He served only two years and left to be replaced by a succession of very pious fellows.
It is not known when, but soon after and probably no later than 1875 this housed o eed
road leading to the Magnesia .factory owned by .Franklin Fearing and D.K, Akira. Off of
Pleasant Street it sat closeby where it sits today and housed Noah Morgam and family
who were beneficiaries of Mr. Akin's great Quaker hospitality and kindness.
Now, Noah Morgan has a story and it represents this Quaker kindness. It is also -typical,
therefore a good historical anecdote and worthy of retelling.
About 1560 David K. Akin and his second wife attended a Friends Meeting in South
Carolina, There an old man who was dying and repentant asked the Akins if they would
tare in three slaves, for he was setting them free. The Akins, of course, agreed and
the three boys, Noah and his brother Eli and their cousin, Dempsey Ragsdale were taken
north by a doctor friend of the old roan. That trip in itself is a story, coming at a
violent time in U.S. history when the lines between Abolitionist and anti–Abolitionist
were harshly drawn. On their way to New York they encountered dangers from other travelers
with definite ideas about freed slaves, but were sale and sound upon their arrival at
Bass River. There the ins took the two brothers and David Kelley took Dempsey; to
10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
A. Yesezkzls Tide.Florence W. .Luker, 1941
B. Shirley C. l'lorian, Scallop Drive, West Yarmouth
0. Yarmouth Vital Records, Marwick, Rhode Island, 1975
D. Forms #4s 166
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET
MASSAGIUSETTS H I STORI CAI. C H SS I ON
Office of the Secretary, &,xton
Community:
Form No:
Stir' - Yarmouth
25
( . a River
Property` me : , z
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued belc3w.
raise, educate and love them. The boys learned and grew and Noah particularly prospered.
He married a girl from New Bedford and settled into this house with his wife and two
children. Here across from the Magnesia factory Noah cultivated Akins large garden and
became a weU liked member of the community. In later years Noah moved. to New Bedford
with his family and became a mariner. He eventually was master of numerous deep water
vessels, one of which, the Oliver Ames, was the largest two masted schooner on the coast.
The house at one time had Noah Morgan's name but later it was known as the "Kittle
White House". Situated on the former estate of Dr. D.M. Sedam at the beginning of this
century, it eventually was moved about 1960 to make room for the construction of that
larger home's garage. The house is presently on the corner of Pleasant Street and
North Cove Landing a, little up from the iedam house which is right on the river.
Staple to Inventory form at bottom