Davol, William C., Jr., House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 at the corner of High and Cherry Streets in Fall River, this large house is a fine local example of the Stick Style, a picturesque mode that appeared in the 1870s. Stickwork and cross bracing on the clapboard walls suggest the hidden structural frame, and the building has an asymmetrical form and irregular silhouette under a steep slate mansard roof with copper coping and finials. Original carved double doors, a peaked entrance porch and a stained glass window survive. Inside are Minton tiles, Eastlakian trim and an original water-powered elevator. Tradition attributes the design to the Boston firm Hartwell and Swazey. The original owner, William C. Davol, Jr., was treasurer of the Davol Mill, founded by his father, and later chief engineer of the Fire Department, where he made improvements to firefighting equipment. His former fire barn next door is now a residence. The house sits just outside the Highlands Historic District and is regarded as a city landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the city's finest examples of the picturesque Stick Style and a major city landmark, meeting Criterion C. It keeps its characteristic asymmetrical massing, entrance porch, carved doors and slate roof with copper trim. It is also tied to William C. Davol, Jr., a mill treasurer and fire department chief engineer.
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 83004286, listed February 16, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 252 High St., Fall River |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | February 16, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004286 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Attributed to Hartwell & Swazey |
| Architectural style | Stick Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Presently used as a residence; the adjacent former fire barn is also now a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.71393, -71.15222 (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 83004286.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8006290
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.