Makepeace, D. E., Company
Also known as: Gardner Terrace
Why it's listed
Occupying a full block along Pine Street in Attleboro, this three-story, U-shaped factory grew in stages for the D. E. Makepeace Company. The south wing and boiler plant date from 1899, a nearly identical north wing followed around 1903, and a brick connecting wing was added about 1915. The firm, founded in Providence in 1885 and moved to Attleboro in 1888, plated and processed gold, silver and platinum into wire, sheet and tubing used by other jewelry makers. By 1930 it had 125 employees and was known as a very large precious metal fabricator. The two earlier wings are heavy-timber and clapboard, with tall, closely spaced windows that gave workers light and ventilation. The brick wing shows the later style of masonry walls and metal multi-light sash. Later additions were removed during a 1984 rehabilitation, which also uncovered the original clapboard and window design. It is cited as one of the best surviving examples of Attleboro's jewelry factory type.
Significance in brief: The building is significant for its link to the jewelry industry, which was Attleboro's main economic force, and for its architecture. It is one of the largest and best unaltered examples of the long, narrow, clapboard-faced, heavy-timber jewelry factory type of the 1880s and 1890s. Its c.1915 brick wing shows the later masonry factory type that followed.
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 85001577, listed July 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 46 Pine St., Attleboro |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001577 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Industrial building type: late nineteenth-century clapboard jewelry factory with a c.1915 brick wing |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to apartments in 1984; the building is described as in excellent condition and occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.94228, -71.28064 (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 85001577.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5203568
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.