Lincoln, Asa, House
Why it's listed
Asa Lincoln House is a small, 1½-story vernacular dwelling at 171 Shores Street in Taunton, set on less than an acre in a rural area. Local records give a construction date of about 1760, though the interior framing system suggests that some sections may be older than the 18th century. The clapboard house has a central chimney, a central entrance and irregularly spaced 6/6 sash windows. Its ell grew from a small side lean-to, which may be contemporary with the main block, and the conversion took place in the 20th century. The house was the original homestead of Asa Lincoln, one of Taunton's first settlers. It was listed because it keeps its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association, and because it is regarded as one of the best preserved examples in Taunton of the modest architecture of early homesteads. It is still used as a residence.
Significance in brief: It is the original homestead of Asa Lincoln, one of Taunton's first settlers. Interior framing suggests parts of the building may predate the 18th century. The nomination argues it is one of the best preserved examples in Taunton of the modest architecture of early homesteads, and that it retains integrity.
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 84002159, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 171 Shores St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002159 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a residence; a side lean-to was converted to an ell in the 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.90106, -71.12426 (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 84002159.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4803132
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.