Capron House
Why it's listed
Capron House is an 18th-century farmhouse at 42 North Avenue in Attleboro, Massachusetts. It is a 2½-story building with a side-gabled ridge roof, two dissimilar end chimneys, a one-story ell on the south side and cedar shingle siding over earlier clapboards. The six-bay east facade has a center entry with pilasters, a five-light transom and a small dentiled triangular pediment. Inside are wide pine floorboards, beaded corner posts and horizontal wainscoting. The chimneys were rebuilt in 1876, and a carriage shed attached to the ell was lost in the 1938 hurricane. Part of the front yard was taken for a trolley right-of-way in the early 20th century. The house was built by a child of Banfield Capron, one of Attleboro's original settlers, who gave each child a 200-acre farm. The Capron family owned the house for more than 200 years. Joseph Willard Capron, a 19th-century owner, kept a journal recording events on the property and nearby, including an inventory of timber, hay and trees.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant as an 18th-century residence and for its association with the Capron family, an important Attleboro family that owned it for over 200 years. A 19th-century owner, Joseph Willard Capron, kept a detailed journal about the property, the area and the family.
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 78000426, listed July 21, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 42 North Ave., Attleboro |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 21, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000426 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition, and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.95529, -71.29666 (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 78000426.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5036302
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.