Historic Homes of Cohasset

As soon as plans developed for the settlement of Cohasset (circa 1670)- then known as Hingham’s Second Parish - folks began building homes, mostly along Lilly Pond because of its source of fresh water. Parcels of vacant land in this area were given to “qualified” Hingham property owners. Previously, uninhabited lands went to second generation Hingham families for homesteads and farms. None of those early homes remain today. Following the separation of Cohasset from Hingham in 1770, most of the homes we think of as historic today, were constructed around the Common Historic District in central Cohasset. Built in the Georgian or Federal style, these homes reflected the dates of construction and the relative conservatism of the period. As time past, later homes were built in the Colonial Revival, Gothic, Greek, or Queen Anne styles. Because this location was close to the harbor, most residents were fishing fleet owners, merchants, or ship builders. A number of these historic homes remain within the families that first lived here. What follows, is sampling of the homes situated around Cohasset’s Common Historic District.

Built in 1793, this Federal style home belonged to Captain Adam Stowell (blacksmith and soldier in the American Revolution). Just steps away from the village center, this ten room home has been a two-family house since the early days.

Captain Joseph H. Smith, who, in his youth served on the Queen’s yacht, rose through the ranks to command the schooner Triton and the brig Almatia (among others). He was one of Cohasset’s foremost “Deep Sea Captains” when he built this house in 1860.

Built in 1793, Captain Samuel Bates,Jr. not only owned this house along the Common, but also the Bates Wharf and the Bates family fishing business. Bates died when his ship wrecked on Brush Island, Cohasset in 1803.

Major Jonathan Bates, a soldier during the American Revolution, built this house in 1789. Originally a Cape Cod Cottage, it was enlarged a number of times over the years.

Darius Weed Gilbert, a veterinarian, served as a Town Selectman for a number of years. He lived in this house since it’s construction in 1890.