Old Bay Road
Also known as: The Post Road; The King's Highway
Why it's listed
This two-mile stretch of Old Bay Road in Norton, Massachusetts, runs from the Easton town line to the Taunton town line and continues a section in Easton that was already listed. The road is about a rod and a half wide, with a tar surface, gentle curves and stone walls along parts of its length. It follows Mulberry Meadow Brook and skirts the eastern shore of Winnecunnet Pond. Eighteenth-century maps show it in its present location, which is why it is described as one of the oldest roads in New England still in its original place. It began as an Indian trail and became a path to the Bay Colony around Boston, then a pack horse route, post road and stage road. It lies within the 1640 Taunton purchase. Two original milestones, dated 1773 and 1782, survive, and Minute Men marched along it in 1775. Two early cemeteries, one the oldest in Norton, overlook the pond.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Old Bay Road is one of the oldest roads in New England still in its original location. It follows an Indian trail later used by colonists, lies within the original 1640 Taunton purchase, and was used by Revolutionary troops in 1775. It also retains two original milestones dated 1773 and 1782.
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 74000362, listed November 8, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | From Easton Town Line to Taunton Town Line, Norton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | November 8, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000362 |
| Resource type | District |
| Areas of significance | Military, Transportation, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as good and unaltered, on its original site. It is a paved road with a tar surface and no curbs or sidewalks, in public ownership and use for transportation. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 41.98186, -71.12825 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 74000362.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7083441
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.