This elegant house, a boxy Federal form with Greek Revival detailing, was constructed around 1840. It came to life again in 1977 when it was opened as the Asheton House by James Asheton Bayard (1922-2005) and his partner, Les Schaufler (1922-1985). Bayard had been an advertising executive, starting out after his service in the Navy during World War II at one of the most Mad Men of the Madison Avenue shops: Young & Rubicam. He and Schaufler lived in Newtown, Conn., in the 1960s and ’70s, where they restored an 18th-century farmhouse. They next turned their attention to 3 Cook Street, which Bayard purchased in 1977 from Helen M. McCaffrey, who had owned the house with her husband, William J. McCaffrey, at least since the 1940s. McCaffrey served as the town clerk and as a selectman. He also offered violin lessons at 3 Cook Street.
Gillian Drake found the Asheton House to be charming, and said in her Complete Guide to Provincetown (1992) that Asheton House was “artistically decorated and furnished.” Bayard operated it until 1997. (“James A. Bayard, 83,” The Banner, 18 August 2005.) • Historic District Survey • Assessor’s Online Database ¶ Posted 2012-11-17
Building Provincetown 
My grandmother owned this house. Helen McCaffrey. We used to visit her every summer! I remember when I was a young child playing on the front stairs, pretending it was a pirate ship! Beautiful home and my nana kept it beautiful. I know the new owners had changed it dramatically, but I remember all the nooks and crannies! The kitchen with a hidden staircase in the pantry and a room upstairs just for linens and ironing! I will never forget the view from my nana’s bedroom window of the beautiful ocean with the sun flickering on the boats! Wonderful memories of that house!!