24 River Street MACRISMassachusetts Cultural Resource Information System
Scanned Record Cover Page
Inventory No: YAR.323
Historic Name: Robbins, Capt. Alexander House
Common Name:
Address: 24 River St
Q,
CitylTown: Yarmouth
Village/Neighborhood: Bass River
Local No:
326
Year Constructed:
c 1835
Architect(s):
Architectural Style(s):
Federal
Use(s):
Single Family Dwelling House
Significance:
Architecture
Area(s):
YAR.H: South Yarmouth - Bass River Historic District
Designation(s):
Nat'l Register Distract (5/2911990)
Building Materials(s):
Wall: Wood Clapboard; Wood
Foundation: Brick
- EJ
The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has converted this paper record to digital format as part of ongoing
projects to scan records of the Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth and National Register of Historic
Places nominations for Massachusetts. Efforts are ongoing and not all inventory or National Register records related to
this resource may be available in digital format at this time.
The MACRIS database and scanned files are highly dynamic; new information is added daily and both database
records and related scanned files may be updated as new information is incorporated into MHC files. Users should
note that there may be a considerable lag time between the receipt of new or updated records by MHC and the
appearance of related information in MACRIS. Users should also note that not all source materials for the MACRIS
database are made available as scanned images. Users may consult the records, files and maps available in MHC's
public research area at its offices at the State Archives Building, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, open M-F, 9-5.
Users of this digital material acknowledge that they have read and understood the MACRIS Information and Disclaimer
(http://mhc-macris.net/macrisdisclaimer,htm)
Data available via the MACRIS web interface, and associated scanned files are for information purposes only. THE ACT OF CHECKING THIS
DATABASE AND ASSOCIATED SCANNED FILES DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL, STATE OR
FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. IF YOU ARE REPRESENTING A DEVELOPER AND/OR A PROPOSED PROJECT THAT WILL
REQUIRE A PERMIT, LICENSE OR FUNDING FROM ANY STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY YOU MUST SUBMIT A PROJECT NOTIFICATION
FORM TO MHC FOR MHC'S REVIEW AND COMMENT. You can obtain a copy of a PNF through the MHC web site (www.sec.state.ma.uslmhc
under the sub;ect heading "MHC Forms."
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125
www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc
This file was accessed on:
Monday, March 02, 2015 at 4:31: PM
FORM B - BUILDING I In Area no, Form no.
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Office of the Secretarv, State House, Boston
4. !°lap. Draw sketch of building location
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north.
W
0
0
d Bap.
R Ch.
d
Main Street
11
R
v
e
Q r
110-1
Morning Dr.
S
t
r
e
e
t
AN
•3� 6
Yarmouth
(Bass River')
ess 24 River Street
sent owner Thomas E. Armstrong_
ate c. 1835
Source Sight
tyle Federal.
Architect
Pale yellow
Exterior wall fabric clapboard
1 story barn wit:
Outbuildings (describe) shed addition
Narrow two story desig
Other features w/ a large two, story_e
back addition leading to summer
kitchen. Main entrance is indented
in porch on street facing side.
There are 6/6 and 6/3 wind omfi-, -a—
Altered Extensive Date
Moved Date
5. Lot size..
one acre or less x Over one acre
Approximate frontage 351
Approximate distance of building from street
U
6. Recorded by Don Elrick
Yarmouth Historical
Organization Survey
Date Jamuary 1980
* brick foundation. There are eye
brow windows on back addition. Thi
addition has another continued
extensir- with chimney.
30M-5-77
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
Architectural
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, seers 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 Village,,
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. Withington and later the off shore schooner Martha I. lIale.
The fact that Robbins was still livino in the house when he died in
1893 is enough to allots 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 reap, Walling, Boston
B. 1880 and 1907 Atlases of Barnstable County, Walker, Boston
C. Deed book 1226, p. 47, Barnstable County Probate Building
D. 3TYesterday's Tide", Florence W. Baker, 1941