8. 441 Old King's Highway

Tour the Villages
Yarmouth Port

441 Old King's Highway

This fine house, built around 1830, is known as the Parsonage. It was built by the Rev. Nathaniel Cogswell, who served as minister of the Yarmouth Congregational Church for 23 years. Cogswell built his house at about the same time as he was overseeing the construction of a new church meeting house on the nearby Yarmouth Common. In this photograph the home, with its banners, bunting and Chinese lanterns, is decked out in finery for the town's 250th anniversary celebration. Taking place in September of 1889, the celebration was an elaborate affair with arches spanning the streets, special trains bringing dignitaries from Boston and beyond, and all of the historical homes grandly decorated. In addition to speeches, sports programs, and an enormous ball, there was a "special antiquarian exhibit" that showcased items from Yarmouth's earliest days. Wouldn't we love to have seen that!