Thumb, Tom, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1871 on Plymouth Street in the Warrentown section of Middleborough, this two-and-a-half-story Second Empire house was home to Charles Sherwood Stratton, the entertainer known as General Tom Thumb of P.T. Barnum's circus, and his wife Lavinia Warren Bump, a Middleborough native. The wood-clapboard dwelling has a slate mansard roof, a raised brick foundation, a wraparound porch, two octagonal bays and bracketed Italianate detailing. Inside, stairs with six-inch risers, windows set 16 inches above the floor, and a low cast iron stove were scaled to the owners' small stature. The property is significant for its link to Stratton and as the town's most noteworthy example of Second Empire style with Italianate ornament. Its period of significance runs from construction until 1910, when Lavinia's widow and her second husband sold it because of financial difficulty. The lot now covers 1.45 acres and retains mature oaks along its semicircular drive.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Charles Sherwood Stratton, the entertainer known as General Tom Thumb of P.T. Barnum's circus, who built it after his marriage to Middleborough native Lavinia Bump. It is also the most noteworthy Middleborough example of Second Empire style with Italianate ornamentation. Its interior features were scaled to the small stature of the original owners.
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 93000298, listed April 16, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 351 Plymouth St., Middleborough |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | April 16, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000298 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1871-1910 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Second Empire/Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; described as well preserved and retaining integrity, with noncontributing outbuildings and a patio added. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.92126, -70.91824 (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 93000298.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7817828
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.