Historic Homes of Santuit and Cotuit
(arranged chronologically by date of construction)

4698 Falmouth Road
Ebenezer Crocker House
1739

(Sow's Ear Antiques)

This was the first of six houses erected by members of the Crocker family. Its owner was Ebenezer Crocker, the father and grandfather of the original occupants of the remaining houses. Crocker's arrival from West Barnstable in 1739 marked the beginnings of the village of Cotuit. This house was brought from the Great Marshes (West Barnstable) and placed on its current foundation in Cotuit.

The house remained in the family until the early 20th century mainly as a private residence at one time housing a tea room. It is currently the Sow's Ear Antiques Shop.

4766 Falmouth Road
Gideon Hawley House
c. 1758

This house was built circa 1758 by Rev. Gideon Hawley, a native of Connecticut, on land given to him as missionary to the ‘Marshpee’ Indians. Rev. Hawley was greatly beloved by the Indians, who petitioned King George in 1760 to grant him 5 acres of land; then again petitioned the Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1780 for an additional 30 acres, including marsh and meadow lands.

The house location was selected to be near the village of Cotuit, specifically on the stage road from Barnstable to Sandwich and Falmouth. Little is known as to who owned the old house after Rev. Hawley died in 1807 until 1861, when Robert and Julia Fuller (pictured above) were known to be living there.. Originally set closer to the road, this late Georgian style dwelling was moved back on the property when Route 28 was constructed during the 1920s.

4701 Falmouth Road
Alvan Crocker Homestead
1769

(ETC Antiques)

This is the second of six houses built by members of the Crocker family at the intersection of Falmouth Road and Main Street. It was built for Alvan Crocker, Sr., the oldest son of Ebenezer Crocker, when he turned 21 years old. Alvan married Sylvia Thatcher, daughter of Rev. Roland Thatcher, and the couple raised eleven children in this home. Like his brothers, Alvan became a well-to-do landowner and farmer.
 
The house remained in the family until 1972, when it was purchased as a private residence by Anne and Joe Barrett. In addition to calling this historic house ‘home’, the Barretts have their specialty businesses at the property: Joe’s “Buckleworks”, their antique shop “ETC” and their fresh produce stand, with fruits and vegetables from the very land once farmed by Alvan Crocker himself.

4676 Falmouth Road
Zenas Crocker House
1782

(Cahoon Museum of American Art)

​This is the third of six houses built at the intersection of Falmouth Road and Main Street built by the Crocker Family. Zenas was the fifth son of Ebenezer, the founder of this Cotuit family. Following Zenas' death, the house, after several transactions, was left to Ezra Crocker. In 1821, Ezra opened a tavern and lodging for travelers as a stopping point between Sandwich and Barnstable.

Until the 1920s the house remained under Crocker ownership until being purchased by Frank Handy and then the renowned Cape artists Ralph and Martha Cahoon as a studio and antiques shop. After Ralph's death in 1982, Rosemary Rapp purchased the house with the future Cahoon Museum in mind. By 1984 the museum was running and showcasing the Cahoon's artwork and early 19-20th century American artwork. Since then it has remained the Cahoon Museum and is currently undergoing a major renovation to expand the museum around the historic home.

108 School Street
Hezekiah Coleman House
1787

40 Old Kings Road
Josiah Sampson House
1793

4631 Falmouth Road
Roland T. Crocker House
1796

(Villagio at the Regatta)

This house was built for Roland Thatcher Crocker (1772-1846), the son of Alvan Crocker. Roland was the grandson of Ebenezer Crocker Jr., the first settler in the village of Cotuit. Shortly after its construction it became the home of Cotuit's first library. In 1821, a post office was established in this building and functioned there from 1821-1846 with Roland as Postmaster. By 1855 it was being used as a tavern by J. Folger.

Since then it has been used as a summer cottage, a gift shop, and since 1983, a restaurant.

4681 Falmouth Road
Alvan Crocker Jr. House
1796

This house was built by Alvan Crocker Jr., across the street from that of his grandfather, Ebenezer, first settler in this area. Alvan Crocker, Jr. first married Phoebe Crocker, later Lucy Sampson. He was the father of four children.

The house was subsequently owned by Henry “Lawyer” Lovell and his wife, Mercy. Their cousin, Susan Lovell Baxter inherited it, and willed it to E. Agnes Hodges. It was also used as a residence by various Harlows and as a consignment shop. In 1946, Norwegian native Gyda Gundersen (Mrs. William L. Hall) purchased the property for her shop, Scandinavian Imports. In 1977, the new owner, Ms. Elizabeth Hall, built an addition to the shop. A succession of businesses followed over the past several decades.

The house was renovated in 2016 to accommodate office and retail space. The back section (renovated barn) is currently home to the Chapman Art Gallery.

4632 Falmouth Road
Zenas Crocker III House
c. 1860

(Isaiah Thomas Used and Rare Books)

This house was built for one of the many Zenas Crockers who descended from the earliest settlers of Santuit. Zenas had been to California during the Gold Rush, but soon afterward settled in the mid-west and ran a general store there for years. In 1860 he returned to Cotuit and built this house, which was a most modern one for the times. The grounds were landscaped and with a curving drive at the front. A unique item was the long bathtub he had installed. It was an innovation in the village. The statue of a deer on the lawn was also unusual.

Since being owned by the Crockers, this house has been used as a summer house, real estate office, funeral home, upscale women's apparel store, and since 1990, the Isaiah Thomas Book Shop.

​11 Old King’s Road
Betsey Goodspeed/ Crocker Farmhouse
1865

(White Cat Wool)
​
This property represents a great example of community spirit and cooperation in times of need. Originally a simple cottage, situated on Josiah Sampson’s land overlooking Sampson’s Mill, it was built by Cotuit citizens as a gift for a poor woman, Betsey Goodspeed, whose husband was lost at sea at the end of the Civil War, circa 1865. Betsey had one child, Howard C. (born 1857).

The dwelling was moved to its current location to become a farmhouse for the Crocker Family, after they inherited the land (100 acres to the south and extensive lands to the north) from Josiah Sampson. Howard Goodspeed stayed on to tend the farm: landscaping; running the dairy; and selling wood, hay and grain. An east wing was added (1877-1895) to accommodate the Goodspeed Family’s six children.

By 1899, golf links were laid out on the lower 100 acres, as well as a racetrack and baseball diamond. When Howard later moved to Onset, where he ran a restaurant and a party boat, the house remained in the Crocker Family until 1949. It had various owners and additions to the architecture during the latter half of the 20th century, up to present day, maintaining its 19th century charm..

The house is currently both the private residence of John and Patricia Pisch and the home of Patricia’s specialty shop, White Cat Wool Rug Hooking. ​