The Roderick Bryan House stands in a rural area of northeastern Watertown, at the northeast corner of Linkfield and Bryan Roads. It is a 1+1⁄2-story Cape style wood-frame structure, oriented facing west toward Linkfield Road. It has a gabled roof, central chimney, and clapboarded exterior. The main facade is five bays wide, with a center entrance framed by a 1940s Federal Revival surround of sidelights, doubled pilasters, and a peaked entablature with cornice. An ell extends to the rear (east) of the main block, joining the house to a barn. The interior follows a typical central chimney plan, with chambers to either side of the chimney, and a long room across most of the rear. Stairs to the attic are found in one corner. The interior retains many original features, including wainscoting, chair rails, fireplace paneling, and doors.[2]
The house was built about 1820 by Roderick Bryan, on land purchased by is father in 1807. Bryan was a farmer, who apparently also operated a small tavern in the back of the house. The house was sold out of the family in 1910, to the son of a family servant for $1. The house exhibits a number of conservative building practices, notably in the layout, which is typical of mid-18th century Capes, while also adopting period practices such as raising the roof plate to provide additional interior space in the attic level.[2]
