Packet Mail's east porch entrance, just off historic Old King's Highway (Rt 6A)
Location: Barnstable, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA (75 Miles to Boston and Logan Airport; 15 min to Hyannis)
Accommodations: House, 5 Bedrooms + Den, 2 Baths (Sleeps 9-11)
Enjoy your summer vacation with family and friends in an historic house on Cape Cod, situated just off Barnstable Harbor, right on The Old Kings Highway in Barnstable, Massachusetts. This 5 bedroom/2 bath home is a quiet getaway less than two hours by car from Boston. Steeped in history, the house is centrally located with ideal access to sandy beaches, nature walks, national seashore, excellent fishing, the quaint village of Barnstable, excursions for whale watching as well as antique-shopping and opportunities to explore the broader Cape Cod area.
Relax in the calm of the house’s extensive lawn on this one-acre property, enjoy a refreshing rinse in the house’s new outdoor shower after a swim in the seawater, and learn about local history that stretches back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The History behind the House
Built in 1829, the house “Packet Mail” is named for the ship commissioned and sailed by Captain Matthias Hinckley, builder of the house and great- great- grandfather of the present owner. It is one of the oldest houses in the area and is one of a few historic homes to still be owned by the family who built it. In 2009, the house celebrated its 180th birthday.
The house is on record at the local Historical Society. Matthias Hinckley owned the surrounding land between 6A and the water, which has now been developed with homes along Allyn Lane. Care has been taken to make updates to the house – for convenience and comfort – without jeopardizing the character or history of the home.
About the House
Situated one mile from charming Barnstable Village, and a 15- minute walk to Barnstable Harbor, the house can sleep 9-11. There is an expanse of lawn for enjoying outdoor barbeques, croquet, badminton, and reading in comfortable lawn furniture and hammock.
Inside, you will find a living room and parlor on the first floor, along with the dining room and kitchen. One the second floor there are five bedrooms, each with a tidbit of history to share. The front bedroom, with a double bed, features an original fresco painted by artist Alexander Crane – owner and inhabitant of the house in the 1940s and 50s and father of the current owner. A special access door opens from the front bedroom onto a second bedroom with two single beds. The third bedroom, known as the ‘Sewing Room’ is a cheery yellow with a single bed.
The fourth bedroom (the ‘master bedroom’) has a queen-sized bed with windows that provide a generous cross-breeze ventilation. The final bedroom has a double bed and a view of the water of Barnstable Harbor and the dunes of Sandy Neck National Seashore. It can be accessed through the master bedroom or by its own set of stairs connected to the kitchen, on the first floor.
The property surrounding the house offers two (2) porches and a wrap-around lawn that runs all along the west and northern side of the house. Lawn furniture, as well as a hammock and stand await you in the dappled sunlight on a calm afternoon. Access to large screened –in porch off attached ‘Barn’ structure can be made available on request, and is perfect for big family meals if mosquitoes linger.
From the house, you can reach the water of Barnstable Harbor in 5-10 minutes. A walk down Allyn Lane offers neighborhood access to the marsh while Scudders Lane is the small, charming public beach with access for oyster and quahog seekers, sandflat adventurers and those with small boats. Other neighboring lanes offering walks with views of the water.
Packet Mail is suitable for a range of vacationers - from genealogists and historians who look to bask in local history to those who want to gather families and friends. Adult visitors will enjoy the peace and quiet as well as easy access to points of interest, while younger families can take advantage of the space for kids to explore and the home's proximity to young family-friendly activities in-town or in the water.
In the event that you would like to celebrate something special, we are happy to offer contacts to arrange for tents, local caterers, bouncy castles for kids, locally-harvested oysters, local fishing and quahog spots.
To give a sense of our location, here are some approximate travel times to different locations:
*1.5 hours driving from Boston (or by Plymouth and Brockton bus from South Station)
*1.5 hours driving from Providence and PVD airport
*45 minutes driving to Provincetown (whale-watching, restaurants, historic sight-seeing)
*20 minutes driving from Sagamore Bridge and the Bourne Bridge
*15 minutes driving to Hyannis (shopping/commercial center)
*5 minutes driving to Barnstable Marina (whale-watching/fishing excursions) and Barnstable Village [walking about 20 minutes] (general store, local coffee shop, banks, restaurants)
Barnstable Village and Immediate Surroundings
This north side of Cape Cod offers access to antique stores and art galleries galore, whale watching, good restaurants, interesting old cemeteries and houses and wonderful summer theater. Sturgis Library, with its treasure of genealogical research materials, and the Barnstable Historic Society are less than a mile away.
Old Kings Highway, or 6A, is the historic horse track-gone-two-lane road that winds its way through Cape Cod’s most historic towns. Starting in the 1700s, all houses and other buildings were built right on the Kings Highway and thus a tour down 6A brings you to the historic gems of the Cape – all the way from its start at the Sagamore Bridge, along the length of the Cape’s ‘arm’ to the tip of the peninsula in Provincetown.
Access to the greater Cape Cod Area and the Islands
The commercial center of Cape Cod is an easy 15 minutes away by car, in Hyannis. You will find grocery stores, shopping malls, movie theatres, the local airport (flights to the Islands), ferry boats (to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard), rental cars, restaurants and other accommodations/hotels.
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking
- Parking for RV/Boat/Trailer
- Beds
- Queen Bed
- Double Bed
- Twin/Single Bed
- Convertible Bed
- Entertainment
- Cable/Satellite TV
- DVD
- CD Player
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
- Charcoal BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- View/Location
- Ocean View
- Communications
- Telephone
- Broadband Internet
- WiFi (Wireless Internet)
- Other Amenities
- Beach sticker for access to beaches around Cape Cod; Hammock and stand; Comfortable lawn furniture; Croquet set; Fans; Beach chairs; History book about the house
- Suitability
- Pet Friendly
- Kid Friendly
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Golf
- Tennis
- Shopping
- Sightseeing
- Restaurants
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Boating
- Waterskiing
- Shelling
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
- Biking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Fishing
- Fitness Center/Gym
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Antiquing
- Cinemas/Movie Theaters
- Live Theatre
- Museums
- Miniature golf
- Other Activities
- Whale watching excursions from Barnstable Harbor or Provincetown; Historical and genealogical research at nearby Barnstable Historical Society and Sturgis Library; Nature walks in conservation area; Access to freshwater Lake Wequaquet
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
Oct 01-Jun 25 .. $250/night (3 night minimum) .. $1000/week
Jun 26-Sep 30 .. $400/night (3 night minimum) .. $1500/week
Holiday weeks: Jul 4th & Labor Day ............. $2000/week
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 2000
The owners have been intimately connected to Cape Cod for multiple generations. As the great great granddaughter of Captain Matthias Hinckley, who built the house Packet Mail in 1829, one of the owners spent her childhood summers in Barnstable with her mother and sisters. The couple took over the house in 2000 to continue the stewardship of the family property that dates back 180 years. They have been giving it love and care ever since and would be delighted to share this special place with you.
Why the Owner Chose Barnstable
The ownership of this house is a family legacy dating back generations, to 1829. The property was not purchased as a vacation rental. It is an historic house that is just recently available for rental.
Property Photos
- Packet Mail's east porch entrance, just off historic Old King's Highway (Rt 6A) - Barnstable, Massachusetts Vacation Home Near Beach, Fishing & Shopping
- Downstairs, the living room and parlor offer ample space to relax - Barnstable, Massachusetts Vacation Home Near Beach, Fishing & Shopping
- One room showcases a 1942 fresco by the owner’s artist father, Alexander Crane - Barnstable, Massachusetts Vacation Home Near Beach, Fishing & Shopping
- The dining room features a beautiful fireplace and table for 6, potentially 12
- The West Porch opens onto a large lawn with hammock, furniture and play space.
Guest Comments (2)
First (1) of (2). View all comments
Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #256195
There have been 1069 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset in 2009.
This listing was first published here in 2009.
Date last modified - October 07, 2009
Positive Rating
Katy , NY, NY