Brow's Tavern
Why it's listed
Brow's Tavern is a clapboard-sided, wood-frame building at 211 Tremont Street in West Taunton, Massachusetts, dated to about 1780. It is reputed to have served as an early tavern on the Bristol Path, the route now called Tremont Street, and is regarded as a landmark of West Taunton. The building is believed to have begun as a typical five-bay Cape-type house. Around 1800 it was enlarged by three more bays, creating what is known as a half-house. The extended gable-roof cottage has eight bays, with entrances in the third and sixth bays framed by tapered pilasters. The older doorway has a narrow transom, and a drilled bedmolding marks the cornice. It was listed because it is a good local example of its type and period that keeps almost all of its important architectural features, and because it is the only surviving 18th-century building in the area linked to tavern use. It remains a residence on a lot of about half an acre.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a good local example of its type and period that retains almost all important architectural features. It is also the only surviving 18th-century building in the area associated with tavern use. It is reputed to be an early tavern on the Bristol Path, now Tremont Street.
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 84002094, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 211 Tremont St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002094 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.91178, -71.12425 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84002094.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4975883
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.