Rockland Trust Company
Why it's listed
Rockland Trust Company occupies the southwest corner of Union Street and Taunton Avenue in Rockland, Massachusetts. The bank was organized in 1907 and moved into this building in 1917, after growing quickly on the town's shoe-industry prosperity. Boston architect Thomas James, who specialized in banks, designed it in the Georgian Revival style, a choice meant to convey security. The original block is red brick laid in Flemish bond, trimmed with cast stone, with massive fluted columns and pilasters carrying a full entablature, a granite balustrade, and tall arched windows with scrolled keystones. Additions followed in the early 1920s, in 1947 and in 1974, most echoing the original detailing, while the 1974 rear addition is contemporary. The building was listed for its link to Rockland's growth during the World War I era and for its standing as a major architectural landmark on the town's principal commercial street.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is locally significant under Criteria A and C. It reflects Rockland's rapid growth in the World War I era and its development as a town independent of Abington. It is also a major architectural landmark on the town's main commercial street, in the Georgian Revival style then popular for banks.
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 89000218, listed April 7, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 288 Union St., Rockland |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | April 7, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000218 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1917-1923 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas E. James & Co., Boston MA |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival (Later 19th & earlier 20th Century Revivals) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Economics, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a bank; the form says the Trust Company is the largest bank in Rockland with about 20 branches in surrounding towns. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.13624, -70.91588 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 89000218.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7355462
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.