BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 BOYLSTON STREET BOSTON, MA 02116 56 JAN 0 2 1990 AREA FORM NO. 113 Swansea, Mass. MRA Town Address SWANSEA 262 Cedar Avenue Historic Name Deacon John Buffington House Photo (3"x3" or 3"x5", black and white) Indicate address of property on back of photo. Staple to left side of form. Sketch Map: Draw map showing property's location in relation to nearest cross streets and/or geographical features. Indicate all buildings between inventoried property and nearest intersection(s). Indicate north Use: Present Original DESCRIPTION Date Source Style Architect residence residence ca. 1790 visual analysis Georgian vernacular unknown Exterior Wall Fabric shingle Outbuildings misc. small sheds (see attached map) Major Alterations (with dates) rear ell (prob.
mid-19th cent.) Condition good Moved no Acreage Setting Date approximately one acre house oriented south in rural residential area UTM REFERENCE 19 315540 4623100 USGS QUADRANGLEFal1 River MA-RI 1967/1979 SCALE 1:25000 Recorded by Gendron & Travers/K. F1ynn/Broome! Organization Swansea Historical Conmission Date 1978/February 1986/November 1989 NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA STATEMENT (if applicable) The Deacon John Buffington House, 262 Cedar Avenue, retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association and meets Criterion C on the local level as one of the few intact examples of the three-quarter house extant in Swansea. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Describe important architectural features and evaluate in terms of other buildings within the community.
This gabled, 2½-story, three-quarter house has a four-bay facade with the entry and brick chimney located in the third bay. The vernacular Georgian dwelling displays little architectural embellishment other than thin cornerboards and slightly articulated window heads on the first floor facade windows. The door surround is equally simple, consisting of plain boards. A secondary entrance is located on the west side of a two-story, gabled, rear ell to the north. Six-over-six window sash and the rear ell most likely date to the mid-19th century. While 262 Cedar Avenue lacks distinguishing architectural detail, the dwelling is significant as one of the best preserved examples of the 2½-story, three-quarter house form in Swansea. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE Explain the role owners played in local or state history and how the building relates to the development of the community.
John Buffington, earliest documented owner of the house, was deacon of the Christian Church (MHC #10), located north of Cedar Avenue on Maple Avenue at Swansea Center. His daughter married Elder William Miller, pastor of the same church, a popular man of local reputation. At least three generations of Millers are known to have occupied this house. Elder Miller and his descendants also engaged in farming and fishing, which comprised the mainstay of Swansea's economy in the 18th and 19th centuries. This house was one of at least two Buffington homesteads established between Cedar Avenue (formerly Cedar Lane) and the Cole's River in the 18th century. The Buffington family occupied an important place in the development of Swansea. Thomas Bovanton (later Buffington) emigrated from Wales ca. 1671, settling first in Salem and later in Swansea.
Members of the family were associated with the establishment of the first Friends Meeting in Swansea in 1701. Numerous Buffington descendants built homes throughout Swansea, with a significant cluster located east of Luther's Corner/Swansea Center in the Cedar Avenue vicinity. BIBLIOGRAPHY and/or REFERENCES Helen Pierce, Swansea Historical Society, interview, 11/89. New England Families, P.338, Swansea Public Library. Bristol County Registry of Deeds, Fall River, and Registry of Probate, Taunton. 1849 map of Swansea, and 1871 and 1895 atlases of Bristol County, Swansea Public Library. Fall River Herald News, Wed. May 22, 1929. 8/85 Neg Fom 10.0000 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Page. Swansea MRA Bristol County, MASSACHUSETTS Hibeselliva Serier Cover 1.
Anthony, Davúd M., House OMB Approvel No. 1024-0018 Date Listed Entered in the accept ßeray Suage 02-16-9 Hatlonal Rogletenkteper OtemmBye 2/16/90 Attest Antered 1n the 2. Anthony, Harold H., House latlonad dogletes HReeper Aelone Ajun 2/66170 Attest 3. Bark Street Sckool intered in tbe Hational Hegleter Aéeper diluneSyun $/6/90 Attest 4. Barneyville Historic District Entered 1n the Batooua2 Reelster Keeper Aelmgu 2/14/50 Attest 5. Bend of the Lane intured 1a tbe Nationad Regietes Ykeeper AulunByun 1/16/90 Attest 6. Brown, John, IV, House antered in tat Hational Registes Keeper ( selaußyen 2/26150 Attest 1. Buffington, DEacon,John, Housetered in the Hationad Registes Lxoeper AelureBgu 31610 Attest 8. Church of Christ, Swansea /Reeper sintered in tho National Registos AelunaBgu 2/16/50 9.
Cole, Benjamin, House Attest AKeeper Entered in the National Reglster VelanßByar 2/16150 Attest 10/ Colony Historic District Anbosanlta derion JaKeepert -patty Senge 02-16-90 Attest UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Buffington, Deacon John, House NAME: MULTIPLE Swansea MRA NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Bristol DATE RECEIVED: 1/02/90 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 2/02/90 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 90000056 NOMINATOR: STATE REASONS FOR REVIEW: DATE OF PENDING LIST: 1/1$/90 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 2/16/90 REQUEST: N SAMPLE: COMMENT WAIVER: N LACCEPT RETURN ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: REJECT 2/16/90 DATE N N Eatered 1n the Hational Regietor RECOM./CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLINE DATE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N CLASSIFICATION count _resource type STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION FUNCTION _historic DESCRIPTION current architectural classification materials descriptive text SIGNIFICANCE Period Areas of Significance--Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other BIBLIOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHICAL DATA acreage UTMS verbal boundary description _boundary justification ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION/PRESENTATION sketch maps _USGS maps photographs -presentation OTHER COMMENTS Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Phone Signed Date 262 Cedar Ave Scansea, MA.
Deacon Vohu Buffington House (MHC*117) 262 Cedar Avenue Swausea, Mass. MRA 1986 View SE (rear aud ell) PROPERIY M. TOWN OF SWAI.EA 1961/REVISED 0/82 BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS JAMES W. SEWALL COMPANY SCALE 1 INCH = 100 + FEET OLD TOWN. MAINE MOR ABESAINO PUWOSES ONLY 57 MHC#113 262 Cedar Are. /,1 125 270 135' /A xXX xxxxx.b/xxxxxx 83 366: 3 D-1 KEY L = HOUSE XXX =GRANITE WALL 253+ 3 D OS/ CEDAR AVE $2762 410- 11.685 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000296