Dean-Hartshorn House
Why it's listed
Built around 1798 as the residence and farm of Abiezar Dean, this house at 68 Dean Street in Taunton is a five-bay, two-and-a-half-story Georgian building. Its front and rear walls are clapboard, while the end walls are brick. The centered entrance has a semicircular fanlight under a pediment, supported by tapered pilasters, and the windows hold twelve-over-twelve sash. In 1905 George Hartshorn, a descendant of the founders of the Dean Cotton Mill, bought the property and added east and west wings and dormers. The east wing was moved to Longmeadow Road in 1915 and converted to a residence. Later rear additions and Georgian Revival dormers have done little to disturb the house's character. It has served as a nursing home since the 1930s. The house was listed for its architecture: it is considered one of Taunton's four finest Georgian-influenced buildings, comparable to the McKinstrey House on High Street, and it retains integrity of design, materials, workmanship, setting and association.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the four most outstanding examples of Georgian-influenced design in Taunton. It has brick ends and a classically detailed entrance surround, and later alterations did little to harm its architectural integrity. The nomination states it meets Criterion C as a preserved, excellent example of high-style Georgian architecture in the community.
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 84002111, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 68 Dean St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002111 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a nursing home from the 1930s to the present, per the form (recorded 1980). |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.90403, -71.08047 (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 84002111.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5245957
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.