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Captain John Wilson House and Bates Ship Chandlery |
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![[photo]](buildings/wil2.jpg "[photo]")
Bates Ship Chandlery
Photo courtesy of Betsy Friedberg, Massachusetts Historical Commission |
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Cohasset developed into a seafaring village based on shipbuilding, trading and fishing. The Bates Ship Chandlery was constructed in the mid-18th century by Samuel Bates, a prominent captain and businessman. Originally situated on Border Street across from Bates Wharf and Cohasset Harbor, Bates Ship Chandlery outfitted Bates' fleet of schooners as well as other vessels and supplied the families of sailors and others with a variety of dry goods. In 1957, the two-story, wood-framed, clapboard building was moved to Elm Street just east of the historic Captain John Wilson House, home of another successful seafarer. The Bates Chandlery, also known as the Maritime Museum, was subsequently restored and now houses a collection of artifacts and artwork related to Cohasset's long history as a maritime-centered community.
![[photo]](buildings/wil1.jpg "[photo]")
Captain John Wilson House
Photo courtesy of Betsy Friedberg, Massachusetts Historical Commission |
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The Captain John Wilson House is the last relatively unaltered building remaining from the early years of the commercial maritime era of the town of Cohasset. Designed by David Nicholas, the two-and-one-half-story, wood-framed, Federal-style building was built in 1810. A rear, second-story addition was built around 1830. Originally, the first story was likely used as a ship chandlery or other commercial space, while the second story served as domestic space and today houses an extensive collection of furniture, artifacts and artwork representing 19th-century Cohasset.
The Captain John Wilson House and Bates Ship Chandlery are located next to each other at the intersection of S. Main and Elm sts., at 4 Elm St., in the Cohasset Center business district of Cohasset. Both are owned and maintained by the Cohasset Historical Society and serve as museum space. The buildings are open to the public throughout the summer. Please call 781-383-1434 or visit the Cohasset Historical Society's website for further information.
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