Qheguechan Club
Why it's listed
Fall River's Quequechan Club occupies two joined houses on North Main Street. The older portion, the former William Mason homestead, was bought by the club's 25 founders, who included mill executives, brokers, lawyers and a physician. They hired New Bedford architect N.C. Smith to renovate it, and the clubhouse opened in 1895 with a Colonial Revival facade featuring pilasters, a triangular pediment and a columned portico. Membership reached 200 within a year. In 1920 the club bought the neighboring Italianate Wilbur House, apparently built in 1877 by Hezekiah A. Brayton, and linked the two buildings. The Providence firm Angell and Swift redecorated the interior. After a fire, the dining room was rebuilt in 1922. Membership was male-only for over 75 years until associate membership opened to women in 1974. The club is considered significant as an important social institution and as one of the city's best examples of Colonial Revival design. It remains in active use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the club, chartered in 1894, has been one of Fall River's most prestigious social clubs, formed by the city's business and professional elite. Its clubhouse is a fine example of Colonial Revival design with carved interior and exterior detailing, among the best in the city. It is judged to meet 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 83000708, listed February 16, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 306 N. Main St., Fall River |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | February 16, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000708 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | N.C. Smith (1895 addition); Angell and Swift (interior redecoration, c. 1920) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The club remains in active use as a social club. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.71604, -71.15529 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 83000708.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7271310
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.