179 Commercial St

Historic District Survey information for 179 Commercial St

Architectural Description: 179 Commercial St. is a 2-story, 3-bay astylistic commercial building; gable-front roof is sheathed in asphalt shingles, partial cornice returns; exterior is clad in clapboard siding on the front facade and wood shingles on the secondary facades with wood cornerboards and trim; building sits on a brick foundation; fenestration includes 6/6 wood DHS, 1/1 vinyl DHS, modern single-pane wood casement window in gable end, and 20-pane wood picture windows flanked by 4/4 wood DHS on recessed storefront; primary entrance is accessed by modern paired French doors flanked by operable louvered shutters; projecting 2nd story over recessed storefront is supported by Tuscan columns; 1st- and 2nd-story balconies are accessed by modern paired large-pane doors; one-story shed-roof addition extends from side facade; modern 3rd-story addition on rear half of roof.

Historical Narrative: As per Tom Boland (1994): Nos. 177 and 179. The original address for these properties were 178 and 180 Commercial Street. Although a wharf does not exist as this site in 1836, there is a wharf here in 1858 and is noted as "bank Property." The building at 177 is owned by a M. Rogers on both the 1858 and 188 Atlases. In 1886, the building a 177 is noted as a laundry and is still owned by Mrs. M. Rogers in 1907. Site of 179 was acquired by Joseph Manta some time at the end of the 19th century. Mr. Manta, an immigrant fisherman from Oliviera d'Azemeis, Portugal, worked on packet vessels sailing from Provincetown. Manta also is known to have built the last American whaling vessel, the Schooner John R. Manta in 1904. He also built the Julia Costa a record-setting fresh fish Clipper. Currently "Scott Dinsmore Antiques" (2003).

Bibliography and/or References: Barnstable County Atlas., 1880. Barnstable County Atlas., 1907. Bryant, George. Shipwreck Survivor Built Shipping, Fishing Empire. The Advocate. 4-28-94. The Extremity of Cape Cod. Map, 1836. H.F. Wallings Co. Map of Provincetown Village. Atlas, 1858. Jennings, Herman A. Provincetown. or Odds and Ends from the Tip End. 1890. Resident Directory. W.F. Richardson & Co., 1886. Resident Directory. W.H. Hopkins, 1889.

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Commercial Street (Provincetown, Mass.), Dwellings, and Historic Districts--Massachusetts--Provincetown

 (Mass. Historical Commission Form B)