William F. Macy House, 31 Orange Street, Nantucket

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS MASS,10-NANT,76X-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Twentieth century house; part of the Orange and Union Streets Neighborhood Study (MASS-1014). PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Original and subsequent owners: William F. Macy bought from William F. Codd, Executor under Will of Charles H. Robinson, "land with all buildings thereon", with many building restrictions to apply for twenty years mentioned in the deed. Deed also specified that "the present structure shall be entirely taken down and removed from the premises". William F. Macy erected the present building, after having removed the old. William H. and Lucille P. Barney bought from heirs of William F. Macy. Lucille P. Barney inherited from her husband. William Hadwen Barney by deed from his mother, Lucille P. (Barney) Bell, with life right reserved for her.

(Abstract: Records at Registry of Deeds, Nantucket, Massachusetts) 2. Date of erection: 3. Architect: Not known 4. Original plans, construction, etc.: House was built in accordance with explicit directions as to restrictions which were to apply for twenty years from The beams used in the basement were from the old American House which stood on the site of the present house. The American House ORANGE AND UNION STREETS NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY WILLIAM F. MACY HOUSE HABS No. MASS-1075 (Page 2) later became the Holiday Inn, and the panelling, window frames etc. from this structure were used in constructing the new house. 5. Notes on alterations and additions: Little changed since built. Garage added at rear of property.

B, Historical Events Connected with the Structure: A hotel known as The American House stood on this site in at which time W. C. Bagley was the proprietor. Later, Charles H. Robinson purchased the property and ran the Holiday Inn there. This was taken down in William E. Macy was a Nantucket historian and President of the Nantucket Historical Association from to It was largely due to his inspiration and tireless efforts that Nantucket's Whaling Museum became a reality. C. Sources of Information: 1. Old Views: Photographs of American House and Holiday Inn and other old photographs in possession of Charles Bell; Deed with Restrictions, Book 98, Page Registry Deeds, Nantucket, Massachusetts. Prepared by Marie M. Coffin Nantucket, Massachusetts August PART II.

PROJECT INFORMATION These records were prepared as part of the Orange and Union Streets Neighborhood Study (MASS-1014) made in the summer of by the Historic American Buildings Survey on Nantucket, Massachusetts. This is the fifth summer project of a continuing HABS comprehensive survey of the early architecture and urban design of Nantucket financed by a grant from the Nantucket Historical Trust. The project was under the general supervision of James C. Massey, Chief of the Historic American Buildings Survey. Project Director was Professor E. Blair Reeves, A.I.A., of the University of Florida. Historical information was provided by Marie M. Coffin of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Photographs are by Jack E. Boucher of Linwood, New Jersey.

The material was edited for deposit in the Library of Congress by Constance Werner Ramirez, August