71-77 South Street Yarmouth Old Homes and Gathering Place80 Yarmouth: Old Homes and Gathering Places
35 South Street
71 South Street
c. 1825
c. 1850
Federal
Greek Revival
There is little question that this house is as old as
This is a large Greek Revival structure with
its circa date indicates. However, due to an early
numerous additions and alterations. It is one of
century move from some other location, the con-
only a few old structures on South Street and one,
struction date is all but lost to substantial proof.
although moved to its present site, is represen-
Sometime between 1880, when the house appears
tative of the Greek Revival style house found
noticeably absent from the atlas of that year, and
throughout town.
1907, when it appears on the atlas, it came to its
The house has a number of original features such
present site.
as a round cellar made of Barnstable brick and
The land, and perhaps even the house, belonged
lathe plastering. Moved to this site sometime after
to an early member of the Baker family, whose
1907, the historical significance of this dwelling is
members, Amos and David, owned land that abutted
not known prior to this time.
the property in question. It was probably John H.
Baker who sold the half acre to Adelbert Cotell
Since 1907 the house has served a number of families,
after 1895, and the Cotells, Adelbert and Ethel
with the original family perhaps being the Robbins.
May, who had the house moved to this site. The
move is indicated by the fact that the foundation
on which the house sits is quite high, a feature of
the latter part of the nineteenth century and early
109 South Street
part of the twentieth century.
c. 1835
Greek Revival
The rest of the house, minus its modern additions
and alterations, has post and beam construction
This house was moved here during the 1930's from
which shows up in interior corner posts and pegged
the site of the present Jahn Simpkins School on
roof beams. Although one side of this main struc-
Main Street. This would place it right next to
ture is said to be substantially newer than the
Reuben Baker's house at 148 Main Street. There
other, at least part of this house has a potential
is a possibility that Captain Reuben Baker built
claim on the eighteenth century.
both this house and the house next door about
1830, In 1840, after Captain Baker's death,
Freeman Baker bought this house from the estate
47 South Street
but left the other house to Captain Baker's widow
c. 1880
Louisa and her blind son.
Hopkins Baker, an unmarried gentleman who was
born in 1833 to Waterman Baker, sold this house
in 1$87 for the sum of $100. The buyer was Rebecca Freeman Baker was a schooner captain who gave
much time and money to the building of the
A. Robinson, wife of Captain Russell D. Baker.
Baptist Church on Main Street in 1826. In 1817
Captain Baker was a yachtsman who captained
the steam -yacht Pilgrim of Boston, as well as the he belonged to the Boston Society for the Prevention
barges, 2 and the Joel Cook. Captain Baker died in of Intemperance whose creed stated, "No member
of the society, except in case of sickness, shall
1923 leaving the house to his widow. After her
drink any distilled spirit or wine in any house in
death in 1953, the house was left to Herbert C.
town except his own"
Robinson who owned other property in the area.
Four different roof lines indicate much alteration.
To the left is an open porch around two sides of
Freeman had a son named Freeman who was a
the house and a central chimney on the hip roof.
laborer. It was probably this second Freeman who
A hip roof is also on the tiny extension behind
sold the house to Daniel Wing in 1872. Mr. Wing
the porch. To the right is a one-story old structure
owned part of the Wing Brothers Grocery Store
and was a writer for the local newspaper. Three
with brick foundation. The central house is two
has a brick foundation and is basically for
years later Mr. Wing sold the dwelling to Lucretia
stories,
summer use. The windows include many of different
Wilder, wife of ames S. Wilder of Boston. In 1875 J
and 1876, Freeman Baker and a relative, Zipporah
pane sizes and construction. There is also a very
old barn on the property that has both vertical
Baker, who lived across the street, sold more land,
:,nr1 hn,;Wnnr;,l hoards.
without dwellings, to the,Wilders. Lucretia then