Capt. John Wilson House and Bates Ship Chandlery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Capt. John Wilson House and Bates Ship Chandlery
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Wilson House (l.) and Bates Chandlery (r.)
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cohasset, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1754 |
| Architect | Nicholas, David |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001614 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 2002 |
The Capt. John Wilson House and Bates Ship Chandlery are two old, important buildings in Cohasset, Massachusetts. They are located at 4 Elm Street. These buildings are now owned by the Cohasset Historical Society.
The Captain John Wilson House is a historic house museum. It is open during the summer months. The Bates Ship Chandlery shows exhibits about Cohasset's history with the sea. Both buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means they are recognized as very important historical sites.
Contents
Exploring the Buildings
These two historic buildings are found in the center of Cohasset. They are on the north side of Elm Street, close to Main Street. They share one piece of land. In front, there is a garden with a picket fence. Behind the buildings, you can see natural rock formations.
The Wilson House: A Look Inside
The Wilson House is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a roof that slopes down on two sides. There are chimneys at each end of the house. The outside walls are covered with clapboard siding.
The house shows the style of the Federal period. For example, the front door has decorative columns called pilasters. It also has a fancy, tooth-like trim called a dentillated cornice. A shingled addition was built onto the back around 1830. This gives the house a special shape, like a saltbox.
Inside, the main room is on the right side. It takes up three sections of the house. On the left, there is a smaller, unfinished space. A large fireplace sticks out into the main room. A narrow staircase behind the fireplace leads up to the second floor.
Who Lived Here?
The Wilson House was built around 1810. A local builder named David Nicholas constructed it. This was during a time when many new buildings were going up. Soon after, Captain John Wilson bought the house.
Captain Wilson was a ship captain who sailed out of Cohasset Harbor. People say he also ran a chandlery from his house. A chandlery is a shop that sells supplies for ships. The house stayed in the Wilson family until 1912. After that, it was used for different businesses. In 1936, the house was given to the Cohasset Historical Society.
The Bates Ship Chandlery: Maritime History
The chandlery building is located to the east of the Wilson House. It is a two-story wooden building. It has a hip roof, which slopes inward on all four sides. The outside is covered with clapboard siding, just like the Wilson House.
This building was not always in its current spot. It was first located across from Bates Wharf, right on the waterfront. In 1957, it was moved to where it stands today. The Bates Ship Chandlery was built in 1754. It is one of the best-preserved buildings from Cohasset's early days of shipping and sea trade. It helps us remember the town's important maritime past.
More to Explore
- Pratt Historic Building
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Norfolk County, Massachusetts
