Bartlett, J.C., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1880 at 12 Walnut Street in Taunton, this large Mansard-roofed house was constructed for J.C. Bartlett, described as a prosperous mining engineer. It has a square plan, two full stories and a roof broken by dormers and trimmed with cast iron cresting around its upper deck. Italianate details include quoins, a boxed cornice with heavy paired brackets, and tall 4/1 windows with entablature trim. The central entrance has a transom and sits beneath a porch with paired fluted Ionic columns, a porch added around 1910. The house is considered among the best-preserved Mansard houses in the city. Its location on Winthrop Street, near the estates of industrialists, politicians and businessmen, suggests Bartlett held some standing in the community. The property was recognized for its architecture and as a representative of the substantial, stylish homes built by Taunton's wealthier residents during the city's period of greatest prosperity. The nominated lot follows current lot lines and covers about half an acre.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is among the best-preserved Mansard houses in Taunton and a sophisticated, well-developed example of the style. It is also an example of the carefully designed, fashionable houses built by Taunton's more affluent residents during the city's height of prosperity. It is said to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84002089, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 12 Walnut St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002089 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; a porch was added around 1910 and the original wrought-iron roof cresting is retained. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.89662, -71.09681 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84002089.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715620
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.