Buildings at 80 and 88 W. Brittania St.
Why it's listed
Two wood-shingled three-decker tenements at 80 and 88 West Brittania Street in Taunton stand beside the Reed and Barton Co. complex. Built around 1914, they are thought to be the work of a single speculator, Thomas Nichols, who put up identical buildings for working-class tenants. A third matching building nearby was later covered in aluminum siding and lost its architectural integrity, leaving these two as the intact pair. The buildings show Colonial Revival influence in their classically detailed porches and corner pilasters. Three-deckers evolved from late nineteenth-century rowhouses into freestanding wooden structures with a characteristic three-story porch, and were built in large numbers from the late 1880s through the early 1930s, usually near industrial plants and public transportation. The two remaining buildings are considered the best display of this housing type in Taunton. They retain their original location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and remain private residences in good condition.
Significance in brief: The three-decker grouping is described as the best display of this residential building type in the city. The buildings show Colonial Revival influence in their classically detailed porches and corner pilasters, and their wood shingle sheathing reflects a widespread early 20th-century material. They retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association, and the form says they meet Criterion C.
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 84002097, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 80 and 88 W. Brittania St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002097 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Nichols (speculator, likely builder) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival influence; three-decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, privately owned and in residential use; a third three-decker in the original group has been aluminum sided and lost its integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Taunton State Hospital |
| Coordinates | 41.91351, -71.10152 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 84002097.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4986644
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.