259-263 Commercial St

Historic District Survey information for 259-263 Commercial St

Architectural Description: 259-263 Commercial St. is comprised of two 3-1/2-story front-gable buildings joined by a center 1-story storefront hyphen; gable-front roofs are sheathed in asphalt shingles; exterior is clad in wood shingles with wood corner boards and trim; building sits on a brick foundation; fenestration includes square bay windows on the 2nd story with brackets, Victorian details, and paneling below windows, 2/1 wood DHS on one building and 2/2 wood DHS windows on the other; operable louvered shutters on gable-end attic window; Italianate details in the storefronts and 2nd-story bay windows (brackets, window types), and Greek Revival details on remainder of building (window trim, partial cornice returns etc.); storefront contains bracketed cornice, replacement 3/1 and 3/2 wood picture windows with paneling below; 3 entrances on front facade all containing wood pane-and-panel doors, end doors are sheltered by flat Italianate hoods with brackets; 2nd-story square bay window on west side supported by posts that span the entire 1st floor; additions to south side not visible.

Historical Narrative: As per Tom Boland (1994): Noted only as a store in 1858, one of the buildings on the site (#261) was purchased by Obadiah Snow in 1873. Two years later, he acquired the other (#263). At this location, the Snow's sold household furnishings and fancy goods. (261-63) The extant early storefront, comparable to 191 Commercial and 197-199 Commercial survives as an excellent representation of commercial properties in the 19th century.

Bibliography and/or References: Barnstable County Atlas., 1880. Barnstable County Atlas., 1907. Ruckstuhl, Irma. Old Provincetown in Early Photographs. Toronto, 1987.

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

 (Mass. Historical Commission Form B)