Tucker Farm Historic District
Also known as: Gidley Farm
Why it's listed
Tucker Farm is a 57-acre agricultural district on Tucker Road in northern Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Stone walls define its fields, where alfalfa, hay and winter rye are grown alongside pasture. A residential and barnyard area holds two wood-shingled houses, one from about 1720 and one from about 1809, plus a ca. 1850 barn, a carriage house from about 1800 and smaller sheds. The older house has post-and-beam framing and an ell that likely sits on the site of Henry Tucker's stone house. The Federal-style house grew from a three-bay core to five bays in 1830, with rear additions later in the century. The land traces to Henry Tucker, a Quaker who bought a share of Dartmouth in 1669, and his descendants still own it. The farm is recognized as an intact example of Dartmouth's dispersed agricultural settlement, with notable early architecture and a largely unchanged landscape.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is a large, intact complex that keeps much of the original Tucker land holding, still owned by his descendants. It meets Criterion A for its link to an important local family and to the settlement and agricultural development of Dartmouth. It meets Criterion C for its architecture, with two well-preserved houses and an intact agricultural setting. Significance is rated local.
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 88000705, listed August 25, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1178 Tucker Rd., Dartmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | August 25, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000705 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1669-1937 |
| Architectural style | Colonial-Georgian; Early Republic-Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both houses are described as in excellent condition; fields are still partly cultivated and the farm remains in the Tucker family's ownership. The barn is now used as a horse barn. |
| Acreage | 57 |
| Coordinates | 41.62984, -70.98217 (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 88000705.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7851067
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.