Lothrop Memorial Building-G.A.R. Hall
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 at the corner of Washington and Governor Streets in Taunton, this rubblestone building began as the First Presbyterian Church, on land bought from the politician Marcus Morton. Financial difficulties forced the congregation to dissolve, and in 1903 local philanthropist Cyrus Lothrop bought it and gave it to the Massachusetts Veterans of the G.A.R. For much of the 20th century it served as a soldiers' and sailors' memorial and hosted events commemorating the Civil War and other military occasions. Architecturally, it shows well-proportioned massing, fine stone construction and varied Queen Anne details, including a wood latticework screen, brackets and an ornamented balustrade. Its most notable feature is an engaged stair and bell tower lit by very narrow windows and topped by a frame balustrade. After standing abandoned for several years, it was rehabilitated as medical offices. It was listed for its architecture and its long role as a community gathering place.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the city's most significant late 19th century civic buildings, reflecting both its religious and its military history. It is described as an outstanding example of Queen Anne architecture with a long tradition as a community gathering place, first as a church and then as a Civil War veterans' hall. It meets criteria A and C.
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 84002168, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Washington and Governor Sts., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002168 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned for several years, then rehabilitated for use as medical offices; the work was certified as meeting the Secretary of the Interior's standards (1983). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.90380, -71.10747 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 84002168.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6684787
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.