The Crocker Wilder House, 1801

682 Main Street
The Crocker Wilder House, 1801

The term “cape” to describe a home’s architectural style was first recorded in 1800 by then President of Yale College, Timothy Dwight who upon visiting Cape Cod found the homes so similar and suited to a harsh environment that they could be called “Cape Cod Houses.” Set on a low stone foundation with a story and a half under a ridge roof and featuring a large central chimney, this “Cape” was built by farmer and schoolteacher, Crocker Wilder in 1801. According to the Massachusetts Historical Commission it is the oldest cape in the Glad Tidings Local Historic District and one of the finest examples of Cape Cod style in Hingham. Crocker Wilder had two sons, Crocker and Alden and they operated the bucket factory on Mill Lane. Today buckets with their stamp, “C&A Wilder” are valuable collector items. Crocker sold this property in 1810 to Isaac Wilder. Both Crocker and Isaac were descendants of Edward Wilder who received his first land grant in Hingham in 1637. Isaac Wilder then sold the house in 1816 to 23 year old, Daniel Shute, a doctor (1793-1838), who was the son of Daniel Shute, the Revolutionary War surgeon (1756-1829) and grandson of Daniel Shute the first minister of Second Parish Church across the street at Main St (1722-1802.) The Shute family owned the house for 123 years until they sold it in 1939 to Helen P. Burns who lived here for 53 years. Helen donated fifteen acres of her backland and another parcel of land across the street to Hingham Land Conservation Trust. The present owners, Robin and Warren Pelissier, have achieved their goal of creating a welcoming home, bright with light, and comfortable with an occasional touch of whimsy.