Joshua Coffin House, 52 Centre Street, Nantucket, Nantucket County, MA
Summary
Significance: One of the best examples of the mid-eighteenth century ship-masters' houses; a full house plan, central chimney and door, frame, gable roof with lean-to. The Joshua Coffin House is one of the most characteristic of the early shipmasters' houses in Nantucket, noted for a simplicity of decoration limited to the articulation of structural systems and utilitarian trim. It was moved from Sherburne to this site in 1756, and subsequently modified with the addition of an ell and changing of partitions and fenestration to accommodate small apartments. Its most unusual feature is a "secret" chamber hidden behind the front stairhall and between fireplaces on the first and second floors.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-221
Survey number: HABS MA-920
Building/structure dates: ca. 18h1 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1756 Subsequent Work
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