Free House In Dighton, Massachusetts
*** THE DEMOLITION OF THE HOUSE WILL BEGIN ON AUG. 12, 2019. SORRY, WE TRIED OUR BEST TO SAVE THE HOUSE, BUT NOW IT SEEMS THAT THE HOUSE IS DESTINED TO BE IN THE DUSTBIN OF DIGHTON HISTORY.
***NOTE: THIS HOUSE IS NEITHER FOR SALE NOR FOR RENT. NOR IS IT BEING AUCTIONED. IT IS CURRENTLY VACANT. WE HAVE RECEIVED MANY INQUIRIES, SOME FROM PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT THEY CAN JUST ACQUIRE THE HOUSE WITHOUT EVEN ASKING HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO MOVE IT TO THEIR PROPERTY. THE HOUSE IS FREE, AND IT WILL BE AWARDED TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO CAN PAY FOR THE MOVING EXPENSES.
***ESTIMATED COST TO MOVE THE HOUSE: BETWEEN $35,000 TO $100,000. THIS INCLUDES DISMANTLING THE HOUSE PIECE BY PIECE AND REASSEMBLING IT AT THE NEW LOCATION. COST MAY INCREASE DEPENDING ON THE DISTANCE. THERE WILL BE SEPARATE COST FOR RENOVATING IT AND REINSTALLING UTILITIES.
INTERESTED IN SEEING THE HOUSE?
To make appointments to see the house, please call the Bristol County Agricultural High School at 508-669-6744 and speak to Superintendent Adele Sands.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW A HOUSE IS MOVED,
HERE'S A COUPLE OF VIDEOS:
EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE NAT CRANE HOUSE:
***NOTE: THIS HOUSE IS NEITHER FOR SALE NOR FOR RENT. NOR IS IT BEING AUCTIONED. IT IS CURRENTLY VACANT. WE HAVE RECEIVED MANY INQUIRIES, SOME FROM PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT THEY CAN JUST ACQUIRE THE HOUSE WITHOUT EVEN ASKING HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO MOVE IT TO THEIR PROPERTY. THE HOUSE IS FREE, AND IT WILL BE AWARDED TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO CAN PAY FOR THE MOVING EXPENSES.
***ESTIMATED COST TO MOVE THE HOUSE: BETWEEN $35,000 TO $100,000. THIS INCLUDES DISMANTLING THE HOUSE PIECE BY PIECE AND REASSEMBLING IT AT THE NEW LOCATION. COST MAY INCREASE DEPENDING ON THE DISTANCE. THERE WILL BE SEPARATE COST FOR RENOVATING IT AND REINSTALLING UTILITIES.
INTERESTED IN SEEING THE HOUSE?
To make appointments to see the house, please call the Bristol County Agricultural High School at 508-669-6744 and speak to Superintendent Adele Sands.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW A HOUSE IS MOVED,
HERE'S A COUPLE OF VIDEOS:
MOVING PIECE BY PIECE
EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE NAT CRANE HOUSE:
 |
| FRONT VIEW |
 |
| VIEW FROM THE DRIVEWAY |
 |
| VIEW FROM THE SIDE |
THIS EARLY HOUSE from circa 1775 is in good structural condition, but needs to be moved or dismantled from its present location at 130 Center Street, Dighton, Massachusetts.
The house was originally owned by a former sea captain, Nathaniel Crane. The style is pre-Revolution Federal hip-roofed house, It has a 5-flue chimney, 4 working fireplaces, a beehive oven, six bedrooms and a pantry.
The last owner passed away a few years ago and it has been sold to the Bristol County Agricultural High School. However, the school is not interested in the house as it is in the property on which the house stands. If no one rescues the house, it risks being demolished by August 2019 and it will end up becoming yet another fine historical house destroyed.
It is being offered for FREE as long as the ideal taker PAYS for the moving expenses. Please spread the word about this house and if you know of anyone or any group who would be interested in moving and preserving the house, please call the School directly at 508-669-6744 to set up an appointment to visit the house.
SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY.
SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY.
INSIDE THE HOUSE
CLICK TO MAXIMIZE IMAGE
VINTAGE OVEN IN THE ADDITIONAL KITCHEN
LEFT: BEEHIVE OVEN. RIGHT: AN OLD ORGAN
THE KITCHEN PANTRY
ONE OF THE 3 ROOMS DOWNSTAIRS
CLOSET SPACE OF ONE THE ROOMS DOWNSTAIRS
PAINT PEELING OFF THE DOOR
ONE OF THE 4 WORKING CHIMNEYS
CLOSET IN ONE OF THE ROOMS
VINTAGE WALLPAPER
HALLWAY CONNECTING TWO UNITS UPSTAIRS
STAIRCASE
WINDOW FACING THE STREET
WINDOW FACING THE STREET
INSIDE THE PANTRY
ONE OF THE SIX ROOMS
THE STAIRCASE THAT LEADS TO NOWHERE
CLOSEUP OF THE MAIN STAIRCASE
ONE OF THE SEVERAL VINTAGE DOORS
LOOKING DOWN FROM THE 2ND FLOOR
ONE OF THE ROOMS UPSTAIRS
ANOTHER WORKING FIREPLACE
FROM ONE OF THE ROOMS UPSTAIRS
THE KITCHEN AREA UPSTAIRS
KITCHEN SPACE UPSTAIRS
STAIRCASE TO THE ATTIC
AREA IN THE ATTIC WITH SKYLIGHT
OUTSTANDING WOODEN BEAMS
VINTAGE OBJECTS IN THE ATTIC
SHELVING UNIT
BATH TUB DOWNSTAIRS
SINK AND TOILET DOWNSTAIRS
ANOTHER WORKING FIREPLACE
ANOTHER ROOM UPSTAIRS
TOP OF THE MAIN STAIRCASE
WINDOW FACING THE STREET
ANOTHER WORKING FIREPLACE
BEEHIVE OVEN IN THE ORIGINAL KITCHEN
STAIRCASE LEADING TO THE BASEMENT
OIL TANK
MASSIVE STONE COLUMNS
FURNACE AND BOILER
CLOSE UP OF FURNACE
DOOR LEADING TO THE DRIVEWAY
A VIEW FROM THE PATIO
THE BARN
A WATER PUMP
SPECIFICATIONS
Historic Name: Crane, Capt. Nathaniel House
Address: 130 Center St
City/Town: Dighton
Village/Neighborhood: Segreganset
Local No: 35, 42:5
Year Constructed: r 1775
Architect(s): Unknown
Architectural Style(s): Federal
Use(s): Multiple Family Dwelling House; Single Family Dwelling House
Significance: Architecture
Area(s): Center Street Area, Lower Taunton River Area
Building Materials:
Roof: Asphalt Shingle
Wall: Wood; Wood Clapboard
Foundation: Stone, Uncut
Exterior Wall Fabric: Wood
Other Features: Old time barn, great chimney with five flues on a rock foundation, double Christian doors, Norfolk latches, fireplace with bee oven
Living space: 2,112 square feet
Acreage: Over 1 acre
Approximate frontage: 240 feet
Approximate distance of building from street: 40 feet
Original owner: Capt. Nathaniel Crane
Original Use: Residence
- Compiled by Helen H. Lane, Town Historian, Dighton Historical Commission, Oct. 24, 1973.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
In 1795, Nathaniel Crane was master of the sloop Sally, which was built in Berkley in 1794, 42 16/95 tons, 52 ft. long, 16 feet 10 inches broad and 5 ft. 8 inches deep. He was part owner.
A few years later men from his ship, while walking around Havana, Cuba, were stopped by a press gang from a British ship. Their certificates called Writs of Protection, exempting them from impressment, were torn up by the press gang. One sailor, Stout George Briggs, a man of heroic proportions, presented a stout stick as his "protection" and proceeded to use it with deadly effect. When Captain Crane heard this story, he had his ship made ready to sail. He went ashore to get his clearance to sail, heard that the British Consul had vowed revenge as soon as Captain Crane's ship had passed the three-mile limit. But Captain Crane sailed at midnight and was out of sight of Havana by daylight. It is believed that there had been relationship between both parties each time this house has been inherited or sold.
References:
Dighton Bicentennial Book 1912 articles in the Gazette in Taunton.
***This website is run by the Citizens Committee to Save the Nat Crane House, Dighton, Massachusetts.
Address: 130 Center St
City/Town: Dighton
Village/Neighborhood: Segreganset
Local No: 35, 42:5
Year Constructed: r 1775
Architect(s): Unknown
Architectural Style(s): Federal
Use(s): Multiple Family Dwelling House; Single Family Dwelling House
Significance: Architecture
Area(s): Center Street Area, Lower Taunton River Area
Building Materials:
Roof: Asphalt Shingle
Wall: Wood; Wood Clapboard
Foundation: Stone, Uncut
Exterior Wall Fabric: Wood
Other Features: Old time barn, great chimney with five flues on a rock foundation, double Christian doors, Norfolk latches, fireplace with bee oven
Living space: 2,112 square feet
Acreage: Over 1 acre
Approximate frontage: 240 feet
Approximate distance of building from street: 40 feet
Original owner: Capt. Nathaniel Crane
Original Use: Residence
- Compiled by Helen H. Lane, Town Historian, Dighton Historical Commission, Oct. 24, 1973.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
In 1795, Nathaniel Crane was master of the sloop Sally, which was built in Berkley in 1794, 42 16/95 tons, 52 ft. long, 16 feet 10 inches broad and 5 ft. 8 inches deep. He was part owner.
A few years later men from his ship, while walking around Havana, Cuba, were stopped by a press gang from a British ship. Their certificates called Writs of Protection, exempting them from impressment, were torn up by the press gang. One sailor, Stout George Briggs, a man of heroic proportions, presented a stout stick as his "protection" and proceeded to use it with deadly effect. When Captain Crane heard this story, he had his ship made ready to sail. He went ashore to get his clearance to sail, heard that the British Consul had vowed revenge as soon as Captain Crane's ship had passed the three-mile limit. But Captain Crane sailed at midnight and was out of sight of Havana by daylight. It is believed that there had been relationship between both parties each time this house has been inherited or sold.
References:
Dighton Bicentennial Book 1912 articles in the Gazette in Taunton.
***This website is run by the Citizens Committee to Save the Nat Crane House, Dighton, Massachusetts.
Sharing on my real estate page. I hope you find someone to relocate and restore this house!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand- why doesn't the school operate it as a mock farm or living museum? I hope someone moves it, but it is a tragedy that it's being torn from it's rightful place. Nearly a quarter millennium should be enough to earn this old girl her place...
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
DeleteI am confused by the lack of foresight here! On the map I see that this property is surrounded by an agricultural theme. This home, with its stone walls and bit of land, would be perfect for some type of agricultural service, or small farm museum. It reminds me of Casey Farm in Rhode Island. It is possible to move the house (our work for over 40 years has involved moving homes like this - but only when all else fails - and with that, the fireplaces and chimney are lost). I hope you can somehow convince the powers that be to incorporate this house into their plans! What an asset it could be as a museum, or welcome center? or small operating farm that would bring visitors, tourists, or potential students, and perhaps even present money-making opportunities for their program. It is beyond sad to see another piece of New England history lost. The ones that have stood for two hundred years are always more interesting, have more integrity. They serve to remind us of a time when our ancestors worked the materials at hand, with passion and pride, and created classical architectural gems that would stand for over two hundred years. Few men today can claim that. These homes deserve better, than to be shoved out of the way for the sake of convenience. I hope someone will find another way.
DeleteWe did suggest to the school that they keep the house -- they could incorporate it into their plans and showcase the precious history they are privileged to own, but to no avail. I wish that folks could have begun early on begin to contact the Trustees of the Bristol County Agricultural School directly with this idea -- when it came from me, it was considered for a fleeting moment, but finally fell on deaf ears. As Town Historian, I was not aware of the matter until several months after the Selectmen were offered the house for the town -- that time might have given those of us in town who want to save the house where it is the opportunity to reach out to the trustees before money had been spent on architects, etc. (I spoke with those very folks - reps of the architects, I guess, and they were not interested in saving it at all.) So very, very sad! We have lost many, many old homes in Dighton to the wrecking ball and I hate to see it happen again!
DeleteWhat a travesty. The school board, trustees, administrators and/or whom ever parties that are involved should be ashamed. This is their heritage that plan to just toss away as though it were nothing. I can only hope the previous owner would have never left this cherished home to them had they know this would be its fate. Seems there should be a way to have it registered as an historical landmark and preserved. This is heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteTo follow up (two years later), it could have been listed as a single-building Local Historic District, which would have prevented demolition, but that can be a complicated process and involves approval at town meeting. Depending on the timing of the demo delay here and support in town, it could have been a lot of work for nothing. I don't know the specific mindset in Dighton about this, but it has happened successfully in other towns (see, most recently, an example in Hopkinton center), but often it does not work...
Delete