5 Nickerson St

Historic District Survey information for 5 Nickerson St

Architectural Description: 5 Nickerson Street is a 2-1/2 story, 2-bay, Greek Revival-style sidehall cottage with a 1-1/2 story, 2-bay side ell. The building has a cross-gable roof clad in asphalt shingles, heavy wood cornice with partial returns, a gable dormer centrally located on the ell, and 2 brick chimneys located on either ridge. It is clad in wood clapboard siding painted mint green with cream trim. Pilaster corner boards are located on both the main structure and the ell. The foundation is brick. The primary entrance has a wood surround with pilasters and a heavy entablature, a recessed door, and brick stoop. Doors on most facades are paneled wood. The windows are 6/6 wood DHS with wood surrounds. An Italianate-style bay window with overhanging eaves is located in the west bay. Windows on the side ell are 2/2 wood DHS and 6/1 wood DHS. The rear 1-story section extends to the east and also contains partial cornice returns.

Historical Narrative: Captain Nathaniel E. Atwood was a prominent Provincetown citizen, utilizing his keen observation and sixty years experience as a fisherman to become a well-known ichthyologist. He also served as a State Representative and represented Provincetown in Washington on political and fishing matters. Despite no formal education, Atwood contributed Dr. D. Humphries Storer book "Fishes of Massachusetts" and the work of naturalist Jean Louis Agassiz. He also lectured at the Lowell Institute in Boston, and was a member of the Boston Society of Natural History, the Essex Institute of Salem, the Institute of Technology in Boston and the American Academy of Arts and Science. Originally constructed on Long Point this property was owned by Captain Atwood xx-xx and moved to its present location in xx.

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

 (Mass. Historical Commission Form B)