List of the oldest buildings in Massachusetts


This article attempts to list the oldest buildings in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States of America, including the oldest houses in Massachusetts and any other surviving structures. Some dates are approximate and based on architectural studies and historical records, while other dates are based on dendrochronology. All entries should include citation with reference to: 17th century architectural features; a report by an architectural historian; or dendrochronology. Sites on the list are generally from the First Period of American architecture. Only First Period houses built prior to 1700 are suitable for inclusion on this list or the building must be the oldest of its type.
The Fairbanks House is the oldest house verified using dendrochronology, followed by the James Blake House, but most First Period structures in Massachusetts have not yet been tested with dendrochronology surveys. The town of Ipswich, Massachusetts, is believed to have approximately 60 First Period houses, purportedly more than any other town in America.
BuildingImageLocationFirst BuiltNotes
Williams-Barker HouseScituate, Massachusetts1634 c.Core of house is believed to date from 1634, but is now extensively renovated and currently operated as a tavern. No dendrochronology survey.
Austin Crombie HouseManchester, Massachusetts1635 c.House is believed to date from 1635 and is located at 85 Summer Street. No dendrochronology survey.
Fairbanks HouseDedham, Massachusetts1637-1641Oldest verified wood-frame house in America, timbers dated from 1637-1641 using dendrochronology, and the oldest house verified with dendrochronology in Massachusetts; largely preserved in original state.
Thomas Bourne HouseMarshfield, Massachusetts1639 c.Located at 1308 Ocean Street; House is believed to date from 1639. No dendrochronology survey.
Richard Sparrow HousePlymouth, Massachusetts1640 c.The Richard Sparrow House is a historic house and museum at 42 Summer Street in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the allegedly the oldest surviving house in Plymouth. No dendrochronology survey.
Samuel Lucius-Thomas Howland HousePlymouth, Massachusetts1640 c.Located at 36 North Street near Plymouth Rock; House is believed to date from 1640. No dendrochronology survey.
Joseph Andrews-Perez Lincoln HouseHingham, now in Chatham1640 c.House is believed to date from 1640 and was moved from Hingham to Chatham. No dendrochronology survey.
Capt. Thomas Willett House-Upland MeadowsKingston, Massachusetts1640 c.Located at 27 Wapping Road; The back ell of the house is believed to date from 1640. No dendrochronology survey.
Wing Fort HouseEast Sandwich, Massachusetts1641The oldest home in New England continuously owned by the same family; now a museum. Dendrochronological dating was attempted in 2007, but was unsuccessful due to "many of the samples having too many narrow rings, some having too few rings, and to the lack of reference chronologies from the south-eastern part of Massachusetts."
Edmond Hawes-Barker Hunt HouseDuxbury, Massachusetts1641 c.aka as the Edwin Hunt House at 8 Hounds Ditch Lane; House is believed to date from 1641. No dendrochronology survey.
John Doane HouseKingston, Massachusetts1644 c.Located at 34 Wapping Road; House is believed to date from 1644. No dendrochronology survey.
Nathaniel Felton Sr. HousePeabody, Massachusetts1644Oldest house in Peabody.No known dendrochronology survey.
James Noyes HouseNewbury, Massachusetts1646
Shatswell Planter's CottageIpswich, Massachusetts1646 c.Currently located on the property at 53 Jeffrey's Neck Rd where it was moved in the twentieth century from another location: "originally located at 88-90 High Street the earliest of the three First Period structures on the site, dating to before 1646"; House is believed to date from 1646. No dendrochronology survey.
John Ellis HouseSandwich, Massachusettsc. 1647located at 76 Main Street
General Israel Putnam HouseDanvers, Massachusettsc. 1648
Capt. Gideon Woodwell HouseNewburyport, Massachusettsc. 1649Located at 2 Woodwell Avenue. Possibly built using beams from the owner's merchant ship
Edward Wilder HouseHingham, Massachusettsc. 1650oldest house in historic district at 597 Main Street.
Edward Brown HouseIpswich, Massachusettsc. 1650located at 27 High Street
Ford HouseMarshfield, Massachusettsc. 165091 Old Colony Lane
Samuel Robinson-Michael Chapleman HouseSalem, Massachusettsc. 1650located at 69 Essex St; large eighteenth century addition
Watson Freeman HouseSandwich, Massachusettsc. 1650possibly demolished
Bickman HouseWeymouth, Massachusettsc. 1650located at 84 Sea Street. Right side of building is the oldest house in Weymouth
John Harding HouseMedfield, Massachusettsc. 165174 Harding St. from the timbers of the old garrison, used as protection during the Indian attacks
Goodspeed HouseBarnstable, Massachusettsc. 1653
John Chenery HouseBelmont, Massachusettsc. 165452 Washington Street
Retire Beckett HouseSalem, Massachusettsc. 1655Currently serves as the museum store at the House of Seven Gables after being moved to that location.
Keyes HouseWestford, Massachusettsc. 165616 Francis Hill Road
Thomas Dane HouseConcord, Massachusettsc. 165747 Lexington Rd.
Nicholas Wade HouseScituate, Massachusettsc. 1657located at 200 Country Way, ca. 1657.
Newman-Fiske-Dodge HouseWenham, Massachusetts1658
Thomas Lord HouseIpswich, Massachusettsc. 165817 High Street
James Moulton HouseWenham, Massachusettsc. 1658123 Cherry St
Caleb Moody HouseWest Newbury, Massachusettsc. 1658803 Main Street
Dillingham HouseBrewster, Massachusettsc. 1659
Cpl. John Andrews-Richard Dummer House/The White Horse Inn HouseIpswich, Massachusettsc. 165934 High Street
Philip Call HouseIpswich, Massachusettsc. 165926 High Street
John Partridge HouseMillis, Massachusettsc. 1659
Dillingham HouseSandwich, Massachusettsc. 165971 Main St
Wade HouseScituate, Massachusettsc. 1659
Parkman TavernConcord, Massachusetts1700 ca.Cited source estimates date of late 17th or early 18th century
James Blake HouseDorchester, Massachusetts1661Oldest house in Boston
Pickering HouseSalem, Massachusetts1664Oldest house in Salem still being lived in. It is located at 18 Broad Street in the Chestnut Street District. Dated using dendrochronology in 2007.
Pickman HouseSalem, Massachusetts1664Located on Charter Street behind the Peabody Essex Museum, the oldest continually operated museum in America. The house abuts the Witch Memorial is also next to the second oldest burying ground in America.
Gedney HouseSalem, Massachusetts1665dated using dendrochronology in 2002
Jabez Howland HousePlymouth, Massachusetts1667Only surviving house in Plymouth where Pilgrims lived
House of the Seven GablesSalem, Massachusetts1668National Historic Landmark, setting of the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel. Dated using dendrochronology in 2005.
Swett-Ilsley HouseNewbury, Massachusetts1670
Judge Samuel Holten HouseDanvers, Massachusetts1670
Chaplin-Clarke HouseRowley, Massachusetts1670 c.Oldest part built around 1670, leanto section added around 1700 before a change in ownership.
Merchant-Choate HouseIpswich, Massachusetts1670/71Also, known as Tuttle House. The House is definitely dated from 1670/71 by tree rings. Dendrochronology dating it from 1670s with some earlier beams and bracing, and possibly an earlier construction date.
The Witch HouseSalem, Massachusetts1675Also called the Jonathan Corwin House, this was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin and is the only structure still standing in Salem, Massachusetts, with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The house is now a museum operated by the City of Salem, and is open seasonally.
Hoxie HouseSandwich, Massachusetts1675 c.One of the oldest houses on Cape Cod.
Narbonne HouseSalem, Massachusetts1675The house is on the waterfront in Salem at the Salem Maritime National Historic Site and owned by the National Park Service. The site has 12 historic structures, including the Customs House, and a replica of the sailing ship Friendship of Salem. Dated using dendrochronology in 2002.
Deane Winthrop HouseWinthrop, Massachusetts1675Dated by dendrochronology to 1675, with an addition of 1695. Currently it is owned by the Winthrop Improvement and Historical Association. This building is one of the oldest wood frame houses in the country and it is the oldest continuously lived-in home. Located at 40 Shirley Street, the Deane Winthrop House is a registered National Historic Site.
Auld Lang Syne Nantucket, Massachusetts1675possibly the oldest house on Nantucket, and a former fisherman's cottage in Sconset
Capen HouseMilton, Massachusetts1675Dating using dendrochronology in 2002.
John Whipple HouseIpswich, Massachusetts1677National Historic Landmark. Dating using dendrochronology in 2002.
Peter Tufts HouseMedford, Massachusetts1677–8 c.The oldest brick house in Massachusetts.
Coffin HouseNewbury, Massachusetts1678One of the oldest extant examples of the principal rafter/common purlin roof. Dated using dendrochronology in 2002.
John Balch HouseBeverly, Massachusetts1680dated using dendrochronology in 2006
Paul Revere HouseBoston, Massachusetts1680 c.Oldest building in downtown Boston.
Hart HouseIpswich, Massachusetts1680Now a tavern. It is located at 51 Linebrook Road and was dated using dendrochronology in 2006 One room is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Old Ship ChurchHingham, Massachusetts1681Oldest church building in Massachusetts; only remaining Puritan 17th century meetinghouse in America; oldest church in continuous ecclesiastical use in America.
Ironmaster's HouseSaugus, Massachusetts1681Also known as the Appleton House. This was part of the Saugus Iron Works, which was a major industrial complex. It has been restored and is open to the public.
Cooper-Frost-Austin HouseCambridge, Massachusetts1681Oldest house in Cambridge, verified using dendrochronology in 2002.
Parson Capen HouseTopsfield, Massachusetts1683Oldest house in Topsfield.
Pierce House Dorchester, Massachusetts1683One of the oldest houses in Boston. Dated using dendrochronology in 2002.
20 White PlaceBrookline, Massachusetts1683Dated using dendrochronology in 2007.
John Ward HouseSalem, Massachusetts1684This house is a National Historic Landmark at 132 Essex Street in Salem, Massachusetts, in the Downtown Salem District; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1968.
Quincy HomesteadQuincy, Massachusetts1686Home to four generations of Quincys, including Dorothy Quincy Hancock. Maintained by Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation as well as the National Society of Colonial Dames in America in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Jethro Coffin HouseNantucket, Massachusetts1686Oldest house on Nantucket Island.
William Murray HouseSalem, Massachusetts1688A historic house at 39 Essex Street
Claflin-Richards HouseWenham, Massachusetts1690Constructed with ogee braces, an architectural hallmark of 16th- and 17th-century English dwellings.
Spencer-Peirce-Little FarmNewbury, Massachusetts1690 or earlierOne of the oldest stone buildings in New England.
Old JailBarnstable, Massachusetts1690Oldest wooden prison in America.
Boardman HouseSaugus, Massachusetts1692Formerly known as the Scotch Boardman House. Also known as the Bennet-Boardman House.
Kimball TavernHaverhill, Massachusetts1692The Kimball Tavern is among the oldest buildings in Massachusetts, and one of the oldest buildings in the city of Haverhill. A plaque identifies it as the site of the founding of Bradford College in 1802.
Stanley Lake HouseTopsfield, Massachusetts1693Stanley Lake House, built in 1693, is a historic house at 95 River Road in Topsfield, Massachusetts. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Browne HouseWatertown, Massachusetts1694Oldest house in Watertown.
Parker TavernReading, Massachusetts1694Believed to have been built in 1694 by Abraham Bryant. Operated as a tavern during the Revolution by Ephraim Parker. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. No dendrochronology.
Dickinson-Pillsbury-Witham HouseGeorgetown, Massachusetts1700 c.The Dickinson-Pillsbury-Witham House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Hart HouseLynnfield, Massachusetts1695 c.
Isaac Goodale HouseBuilt in Salem, Massachusetts; moved to Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1928.1695 c.Date from architectural survey, available on Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System website.
Manning ManseBillerica, Massachusettsc. 1696
Deacon Wrestling Brewster HouseKingston, Massachusetts1696 c.Located at 18 Brewster Brewster Road. It is believed that the house dates to c. 1696 to 1700. No dendrochronology survey.
Dwight-Derby HouseMedfield, Massachusetts1697dated using dendrochronology in 2007.
Isaac Winslow HouseMarshfield, Massachusetts1699Residence of a governor of the Plymouth Colony; now a museum.
Solomon Kimball HouseWenham, Massachusettsc. 1700Although the house is named for its nineteenth- and early twentieth-century owner Solomon Kimball, it was built by Thomas and Mary Kilham. The date of construction is based on a March 6, 1695/6 timber grant to Thomas Kilham by the town of Wenham, of enough pine timber to yield 700 boards.
Hatch HomesteadMarshfield, Massachusetts1700 ca.Purportedly the oldest continuously occupied house in Massachusetts.
John Alden HouseDuxbury, Massachusettsca. 1700A National Historic Landmark, dating to ca. 1700.
Rebecca Nurse HomesteadDanvers, Massachusettsca. 1700This house was built around ca. 1700.
John Humphreys HouseSwampscott, Massachusetts1700 c.
Old Powder HouseSomerville, Massachusetts1704Oldest stone building in Massachusetts
Capt. Timothy Johnson HouseNorth Andover, Massachusetts1720First Period Colonial home
Peak HouseMedfield, Massachusetts1711The Peak House is a first period cottage featuring peak style architecture and post-and-beam construction. It is the only freestanding structure of its kind and one of the earliest surviving examples of Post-medieval architecture in the United States. First built in 1668, the original structure burned during King Philip's War in 1676 and was later reconstructed.
St. Michael's Church Marblehead, Massachusetts1714Oldest Episcopal parish church building on its original site in New England.
Samuel Chase HouseWest Newbury, Massachusettsca. 1715One of the few brick houses of the period.
Boston LightBoston1716 / 1783First lighthouse established in the US, 1716. The current tower, built in 1783, is the second oldest existing lighthouse in the USA.
John Adams BirthplaceQuincy, Massachusetts1722Oldest existing building within which a future President of the United States was born
Bellingham-Cary HouseChelsea, Massachusetts1724The Bellingham-Cary House is a historic house museum at 34 Parker Street in Chelsea, Massachusetts. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Josiah Day HouseWest Springfield1754Oldest known brick salt-box style home in the United States.