Boyden, Seth, House
Also known as: Oakwud
Why it's listed
Set on a hilltop in Foxboro, this two-story brick farmhouse was built in the late 18th century and enlarged in 1836. It sits on its original cut granite foundation within 13 acres of undeveloped land that include a pond, a stream and a rustic early 20th century gazebo made of rough branches. The L-shaped Federal style building has an asymmetrical form, a combined hip and lean-to roof and a large off-center chimney. Inside, a pine-sheathed staircase and Federal mantles survive. Brick Federal construction is unusual for a rural farmhouse in southeast Massachusetts of that era. The property belonged to the Boyden family from at least 1737 until 1922. Seth Boyden II, a blacksmith, inventor and local official, was the owner when the brick house went up. Two of his sons became noted industrial figures: Seth III, an inventor in Newark, New Jersey, and Uriah, a turbine designer in Lowell. The grounds may also contain archaeological evidence of earlier buildings and tunnels.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its unusual architecture: a brick Federal farmhouse with an asymmetrical hip and lean-to roof is rare for rural southeast Massachusetts of its period. It is also tied to the Boyden family, prominent locally and regionally, including inventors Seth Boyden III and Uriah Boyden. The grounds may also hold archaeological resources from over two hundred years of occupation.
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 83004092, listed November 10, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 135 Oak St., Foxboro |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | November 10, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004092 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, altered over time with 19th and early 20th century additions. |
| Acreage | 13 |
| Coordinates | 42.07366, -71.21669 (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 83004092.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7456442
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.