381-383 Commercial St

Historic District Survey information for 381-383 Commercial St

Architectural Description: Appears to be 4 buildings attached to each other. 381 Commercial Street is a 2-1/2-story, 3-bay building converted to residential use; gable-front roof is sheathed in asphalt shingles; exterior is clad in wood shingles with wood trim; brick foundation, fenestration includes 6/6 wood DHS, 12/8 wood DHS, inoperable shutters; modern storefront has pent eave with asphalt shingles; large-pane door with adjacent sliding glass doors; multiple side entrances with exterior staircases. 383 Commercial Street is a 2-story, 5-bay, Greek Revival-style building (rear); side-gable roof is sheathed in asphalt shingles, brick interior chimneys; exterior is clad in wood shingles with wood trim; brick foundation; fenestration includes 6/6, 12/12, and 12/8 wood windows; primary entrance is accessed by a plank door with strap hinges. Third building is a 2-1/2-story, 10-bay structure with gable dormers; gable-front roof is sheathed in asphalt shingles, interior brick chimney with arched top; exterior is clad in wood shingles with wood trim; brick foundation, fenestration includes 6/6, 12/12, 12/8 wood DHS windows; accessed by wood pane-and-panel doors. Fourth building is a 2-1/2-story, 5-bay structure; gable-front roof is sheathed in asphalt shingles; exterior is clad in wood shingles with wood trim; brick foundation; fenestration includes 6/6, 12/12, 12/8 wood DHS windows; accessed by wood pane-and-panel doors.

Historical Narrative: As per Josephine Del Deo (1977): This series of apartments represents the old Knowles Wharf, previously known as S. Cook's Wharf. It was an important center of this portion of the community's activity. Whalers went out fro this point and many unloaded their cargo and fitted out here. The subsequent development of the wharf to the present apartments can be easily visually related to the string of office, shed, sail loft, etc. that were there originally. It is easiest to present a picture of this property by quoting from "And God Created Great Whales" by Georgia Knowles Cook Ferguson - When the business was transferred, Knowles Wharf was on the water side of the main street about opposite Pearl St. There were buildings all down the wharf; the first one had a door opening from Commercial Street leading into the office. Next was a room with a round stove in the center and chairs for friends and captains to sit in and chat. Beyond this building, going toward that water was a storage shed where supplies of all kinds were kept, kegs of nails, ropes, tools and provisions. On the left on the east side was a huge coal bin with coal to sell to the townspeople. Further down the wharf a large building held dories and equipment for the whaling boats, and from the outside steep stairs led to a sail loft where George Pettis with his sail maker's palm sat cross legged on an immaculate floor mending sails and making new ones. All along the three sides of the wharf vessels were tie-up awaiting their next voyage or unloading the casks of oil which had been tried out of the whale blubber aboard the vessels. CONT.

Bibliography and/or References: Barnstable County Atlas., 1880. Barnstable County Atlas., 1907. Cape Cod Directory, 1901. 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. Ruckstuhl, Irma. Old Provincetown in Early Photographs. Toronto, 1987. Ferguson, Georgia Knowles Cook, "And God Created Whales", 1976 (private zeroxed printing).

Text

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

 (Mass. Historical Commission Form B)