Benjamin Baker Jr. House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Benjamin Baker Jr. House
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 Location in Cape Cod
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1579 Hyannis Road, Barnstable, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1828 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| MPS | Barnstable MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000352 |
| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1987 |
The Benjamin Baker Jr. House is a very old and special house in Barnstable, Massachusetts. It was built around 1828. This house is a great example of a building style called "Federal period half Cape." It's so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This list helps protect important historical buildings in the United States.
What Makes the Benjamin Baker Jr. House Special?
The Benjamin Baker Jr. House is located in a quiet, mostly country area of Barnstable. You can find it on the west side of Hyannis Road. It's a simple, one-story house. It was built in the Federal style, which was popular in the early 1800s.
Design and Features
The house has three sections across the front. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides, called a side gable roof. The outside walls are covered with wood shingles. The front door is on the right side. It has thin, flat columns on either side, called pilasters. Above the door, there's a small window called a transom window. The chimney is near the middle of the house, behind the left side. A similar three-section part was added to the back left corner later. The inside of the house has been updated over the years.
A Look Back in Time
This house has an interesting history! In 1826 and 1827, a man named Benjamin Baker Jr. bought the land. He worked as a caulker, which means he sealed the seams of wooden ships to make them waterproof. He bought the land from John Baker, who was a housewright (someone who designs and builds houses). The area was even known as "Baker's Lane" because of an earlier land owner, Nathaniel Baker.
The house was likely built soon after Benjamin Baker Jr. bought the land. Sadly, Benjamin Baker Jr. passed away in 1840. His property was later sold to Simeon Doane, who was a sailor. The Benjamin Baker Jr. House is one of only six "Federal period half-Capes" that are still standing in Barnstable today. This makes it a rare and important piece of local history.
