Walker, Peter, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1727 at 1679 Somerset Avenue in Taunton, this clapboard house follows a central chimney plan and carries Georgian detailing. It is documented as the oldest structure in the city with true Georgian features. The doorway is framed by Ionic half-columns that support a dentilated pediment above a large semicircular leaded fanlight. The cornice is enriched with dentils and blocks, and the 12/12 windows are capped by splayed lintelboards. Peter Walker bought the land in 1726, and local sources say he had the house built as a wedding gift for his bride, Sarah Godfrey. A one-story ell and shed were added in the 19th century, but the original design remains well preserved. The house was listed because of its early construction date and the quality of its Georgian form and detailing. It remains a residence on a lot of about 0.57 acre, and the nominated boundaries follow the current lot lines.
Significance in brief: It is described as the oldest documented structure in Taunton with true Georgian details. It is judged significant under criterion C for its early date and the high quality of its well-preserved Georgian form and detailing. The form also credits it with 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 84002256, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1679 Somerset Ave., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002256 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Central Chimney, Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; the form lists no outbuildings and says the house has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.87886, -71.10243 (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 84002256.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7177562
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.