Santuit Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Santuit Historic District
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The Cahoon Museum
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 Location in Cape Cod
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Barnstable, Massachusetts |
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| Architectural style | Italianate, Georgian, Federal |
| MPS | Barnstable MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000319 |
| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1987 |
Imagine a special neighborhood where old houses tell stories of the past! The Santuit Historic District is a place like that in the Santuit village of Barnstable, Massachusetts. It's a group of historic homes located near where Falmouth Road (Massachusetts Route 28) meets Main Street.
This district includes eight houses. Six of these homes are very important because they belonged to the Crocker family. The Crockers were among the first people to settle in this area way back in the 1700s. Because of its historical importance, the Santuit Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. This means it's a special place protected for future generations to learn from.
Contents
Exploring Santuit's Oldest Homes
The Santuit Historic District is home to some really old and interesting houses. These homes show us how people lived and built things long ago.
The Georgian Style: Early American Homes
Some of the oldest houses in the district are built in the Georgian style. This style was popular in America during the 1700s. Georgian houses often look very balanced and grand.
- Ebenezer Crocker House: Located at 4698 Falmouth Road, this is the oldest house in the district. It's a classic Georgian home with five windows across the front and two-and-a-half stories tall. It also has a big chimney in the middle. People believe this house was moved to its current spot around 1739!
- Alvan Crocker House: Built around 1769 at 4701 Falmouth Road, this house also shows off the Georgian style. It has some of the most beautiful wooden panels from that time. You can even find small pieces of original wallpaper still there!
- Zenas Crocker House: This house at 4676 Falmouth is another Georgian example. Today, it's home to the Cahoon Museum. Even though it's Georgian, it has a Federal style front door. This door has tall, thin columns (called pilasters) and a window above the door (called a transom window), which were added later.
Federal Style: A New Look for Homes
After the Georgian style, the Federal style became popular in the late 1700s and early 1800s. This style often looked a bit lighter and more decorative.
- Alvan Crocker Jr. House: Built around 1796 at 4701 Falmouth, this house is a good example of the Federal style. It's a one-and-a-half story house, which is a common style for Cape Cod homes. It has three windows across the front and a part of the house that doesn't have windows.
- Roland Crocker House: Also built around 1796, this house at 4631 Falmouth is very different from Alvan Jr.'s home. It's considered one of the most beautiful and fancy Federal style houses outside of Barnstable Village itself. It shows how grand this style could be.
Italianate Style: A Touch of Europe
Later on, in the mid-1800s, new styles arrived. The Italianate style was inspired by Italian villas.
- Zenas Crocker III House: Found at 4632 Falmouth, this house is a two-and-a-half story home built in the Italianate style. You can spot its round-arched windows and decorative brackets under the roof's edge. These features give it a unique, elegant look.
