Dean-Barstow House
Why it's listed
Built around 1810 at 275 Williams Street in Taunton, this clapboard house combines Federal-period dating with much earlier design habits. It has a central chimney plan and gabled eaves that overhang, features associated with early 18th-century New England vernacular building, along with pedimented entrance surrounds inspired by English Georgian motifs. Joseph Dean, a descendant of Walter Dean, one of Taunton's first settlers, built it from lumber planed and finished in his own sawmill on adjoining land. Dean was a prosperous farmer and landowner who served in the Revolution and commanded a company during Shays' Rebellion in 1786. The house stayed in the Dean family until the late 19th century. It is considered one of the three most outstanding Taunton residences showing Georgian details and early Colonial plan types. It was listed for its well-preserved Georgian-style architecture and for its link to Dean, and it has not been altered or moved.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the three most outstanding Taunton residences with Georgian details and early Colonial plan types. Although built in the Federal period, it keeps early 18th-century vernacular features and finely detailed pedimented entrances. It is also tied to Joseph Dean, a prosperous farmer, landowner and Revolutionary War veteran.
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 84002109, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 275 William St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002109 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Dean (builder); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Georgian (Central Chimney) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; the form says it was not altered or moved and retains integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.88302, -71.04906 (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 84002109.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5245956
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.