Lothrop, H.B., Store
Why it's listed
Built around 1855 at 210 Weir Street in Taunton, this wood frame building began as H.B. Lothrop's grocery store, which operated from the 1860s through the 1880s. It was one of many small businesses that lined Weir Street after the Civil War. The gable-fronted building rises two and a half stories and is entered through a central door set in a splayed reveal. Large two-over-two store windows dominate the facade. A first-story overhang on deep stickwork brackets carries the sign, and the cornice has paired brackets and eave returns. The storefront and window sash are original, though a spindled balustrade was added and the area above the storefront was altered in 1890. It is recognized as an outstanding example of Italianate commercial design and as a mid-19th-century wood frame commercial building, a type that rarely survives in southeast Massachusetts. It also recalls the commercial character of Weir Street.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an exceptionally well-preserved example of Italianate commercial design that keeps its original storefront and window sash. It is also one of the few frame stores surviving in Taunton, a building type with a low survival rate in southeast Massachusetts. It serves as a reminder of Weir Street's commercial past.
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 84002166, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 210 Weir St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002166 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a store in present use; the form describes it as exceptionally well preserved with integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.89631, -71.10337 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 84002166.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5627896
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.