Twitchell, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Located on Pleasant Street in the quiet western part of Sherborn, this farmhouse dates to about 1710, although a 1690 date is painted on its chimney. It was probably built by farmer Joseph Twitchell, Jr., on his father's land. The house has a saltbox profile, a single-pile central-hall plan, two and a half stories, and a large brick chimney set on the ridge. Inside, a beveled-edge summer beam and two sets of rafters show that the roof was raised. Twitchell descendants enlarged the house in the mid 18th century and added a Georgian center entry with pilasters and a six-pane transom. An end-gabled ell was added around 1800. A mid-19th-century barn with a cupola stands nearby. The property was farmed into the 20th century and is now a gentleman's farm. It is valued as a well-preserved example of the shift from First Period to Georgian building, and it keeps its rural setting. Only the area around the house and outbuildings was nominated.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved example of the evolution from a First Period dwelling to a Georgian-style structure, and it is one of about half a dozen Sherborn houses that may date to the First Period. It retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship, and it keeps its association with local agricultural life.
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 86000510, listed January 3, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 32 Pleasant St., Sherborn |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | January 3, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000510 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Probably Joseph Twitchell, Jr., farmer |
| Architectural style | First Period, with Georgian-style alterations |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous use as a residence since its construction; house and barn recently restored; now a gentleman's farm estate. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.23206, -71.40108 (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 86000510.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6287528
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.