The House

The house, which is now eligible for the National Registry of Historic Places, was the home of Lawrence Kohlberg, the prominent Harvard professor who pioneered a theory of moral development still taught today. He did much of his writing in the house surrounded by his family and many other prominent thinkers and academics who lived near by, in modern houses built in the same era.

The simple but elegant house sits on top one of the highest dunes on the Outer Cape with an expansive view of the Atlantic. The main floor is an open plan, with all the public spaces and a study/bedroom. Two other bedrooms and full bath are in the walk-out, lower level.

The large lot also includes an A-frame cottage* which was built in the 70s so that Kohlberg could escape the hubbub of the house, and for overflow guests. This has a bedroom, sleeping loft, kitchenette and bathroom.

It’s a short walk to Newcomb Hollow beach and a nearby path leads to the secluded Spectacle Pond.

The house was in an advanced state of decay having been vacant and exposed to the weather since around 2001. CCMHT started restoration in 2018 and finished in 2019.

The main house lower level has two bedrooms w queen sized beds, a small room w a twin plus a full bath with tub.

The main floor has a queen sized bed with a small half bath. These are separated from living room by a heavy curtain.

Has heat, AC and outdoor shower. Also has high speed wifi internet service.

The A-frame cottage* has one bedroom w queen sized bed and loft w two twins, a full bath plus outdoor shower. Also has a kitchenette and high speed wifi internet service.

*A-frame cottage is not heated or insulated and not habitable under 50 degrees.

The Designer

The Kohlberg house was built in 1960 by Luther Crowell, a local designer who descended from a long line of Cape Cod ship captains such as Elkanah Crowell of Dennis. He was self taught but collaborated with some of the local modern luminaries such as Olav Hammarstrom. He also developed a pre-fab house design based on the popular Tech-Built houses, several of which are in Wellfleet. At one time he owned large swathes of land in Wellfleet and all together he is thought to have built over 200 houses in town for which he acted as a developer, designer and builder.

The house was commissioned by Lawrence Kohlberg, the prominent Harvard and University of Chicago professor / psychologist, who pioneered a theory of human moral development, which is still very influential in the field.

He did much of his writing in the house surrounded by many other prominent thinkers and academics who lived nearby in modern houses, built around the same time.