Joseph West House, 17 Union Street, Nantucket

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

One of the several merchants' homes of same type of construction erected here on "madeland" about part of the Orange and Union Streets Neigh- borhood Study (MASS-1014). PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Original and subsequent owners: m Joseph West bought land from William Raymond, house-carpenter. Joseph West bought additional land from Richard Mitchell. Obed Cathcart, mariner, bought the property with dwelling, from John West, mariner, for When he died he left it to Nancy M. Coffin, who in turn left it by will to her husband, Alfred M. Coffin. Home for Aged People in Winchester by deed from Alfred M. Coffin. Mary J. Gifford Smith by deed from Home for Aged People for William Jr. and Lulu F. Hall bought from Mary J. and Edwin R. Smith. Arthur A. and Jessie H.

Stetson bought from William Hall Jr. to date Paul H. and Diane C. Madden bought from Arthur A. and Jessie H. Stetson. (Abstract: Records at Registry Deeds, Nantucket, Massachusetts) 2. Date of erection: c. (Abstract: Book 16, Page 469 and Book 24, Page Registry Deeds, Nantucket) 3. Architect: None ORANGE AND UNION STREETS NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY JOSEPH WEST HOUSE HABS No. MASS-1060 (Page 2) 4. Original plans, construction, etc.: This house represents the early years of the when Island merchants and captains were building houses of two-story height, front and rear. It has a very high basement and high front stoop with steps approaching it at the side. Central chimney and door at one side of front, similar in style to houses at #13 and #15 Union Street. There is no roof walk on this house. 5.

Notes on alterations and additions: An ell has been added at the back on the north side and house has been modernized. B, Historical Events Connected with the Structure: In the Quanaty Bank, which extended much further to the eastward across what is now Union Street, was dug away, making several acres of new land in that area where this house was built. Union Street was first paved x^ith cobblestones but these were covered in with bituminous concrete. Joseph West who built the house was a whaleship captain. His wife Mary died in and the following year he sold his home to another captain, Obed Cathcart. Captain Cathcart made several whaling voyages to the Pacific between and on Ships Victory and Young Phenix out of New Bedford, and Elizabeth Star- buck and James Loper out of Nantucket.

In he again went to sea as captain of Ship Ontario of Nantucket. This ship was con- demned at Tahiti and the 700 barrels of sperm oil which had been taken were shipped to England. C. Sources of Information: 1. Old Views: Old photograph of Union Street in 106 Views of Nantucket by Robinson, old photograph in Brief Historical Data, by Joseph Ellis Coffee Farnham, 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 ORANGE AND UNION STREETS NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY JOSEPH WEST HOUSE HABS No. MASS-1060 (Page 3) F. 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