Thomas, H.P., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1887 at 322 Somerset Avenue in Taunton, this Queen Anne house was probably constructed for H.P. Thomas, whose descendants lived in it during the 20th century. It later served as a halfway house. The architect is unknown. The wall surface combines clapboards, cut shingles and wainscoting, and the pedimented gables carry curved truss bracket motifs. The porch has drilled and spindled screens, and elaborate wrought iron cresting completes the decoration. Much of this ornament derives from Eastlake and Tudor designs, applied to a conservative plan type typical of Taunton's Queen Anne architecture. The house is informal in character yet is counted among the most Picturesque examples of the city's Victorian-era construction. It has not been altered or moved, and its nearly intact condition is a key reason for its recognition. Its architectural merit under Criterion C supports its listing, and the boundary follows the current lot lines on a lot of about 0.38 acre.
Significance in brief: The house is noted for unusually ornate and varied ornament drawn from Eastlake and Tudor designs, set on a conservative plan type. It is described as among the most Picturesque Victorian-era buildings in Taunton and as exceptional for its nearly intact condition. It is judged to meet Criterion C and to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association.
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 84002228, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 322 Somerset Ave., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002228 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unaltered and not moved; present use given as a halfway house. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.88780, -71.09369 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 84002228.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5628470
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.