Willis, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1688 at 28 Worcester Street in Taunton, this lean-to house was constructed for Joseph Willis and is still used as a residence. Local sources reputedly consider it the oldest structure on its original site in the city. Willis, a native of Bridgewater, received land in Taunton as a military favor for service in King Philip's War and settled locally in 1670. The house shows features typical of early construction: asymmetrically placed facade bays, a central chimney stack, a saltbox roof, an off-center entrance and small window openings. The doorway is trimmed with pilaster and entablature boards, and the roof, now reshingled in wood, has close-cropped eaves. Two ells were added to the original block, and the interior has been remodeled. The house retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association. It was listed for its association with the city's initial settlement and as a rare, well-preserved example of First Period architecture.
Significance in brief: Local sources reputedly call it the oldest structure on its original site in Taunton. It is a rare, well-preserved example of First Period lean-to architecture and perhaps the earliest survivor of the city's initial settlement. It also has ties to Joseph Willis, a King Philip's War veteran who was granted land in Taunton.
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 84002286, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 28 Worchester St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002286 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | First Period lean-to (saltbox) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residence; ells were added and the interior has recently been remodeled. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.91658, -71.14690 (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 84002286.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6288000
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.