Aldrich, Daniel, Cottage and Sawmill
Why it's listed
On Aldrich Street in Uxbridge, a small brick cottage and a wood-frame saw mill sit on land associated with Daniel H. Aldrich, a wheelwright and member of a locally prominent Quaker family. The one-storey cottage dates to about 1830-1835. It rests on a hammered granite foundation, has a symmetrical undecorated facade, and has chimneys at the gable ends. A Greek Revival wood ell was probably added in the mid-1840s. The saw mill, built around 1835, stands on a high split granite foundation. It represents the small water-powered mills and workshops that served local needs before large-scale industry arrived. An 1850 industrial census listed Aldrich employing three men to make wagons, shingles, lumber and boards using hand labor and water power. After his death the properties passed to his son Gideon. The mill later received additions and was partly demolished, and it is vacant. Both buildings keep strong integrity, and the mill is regarded as Uxbridge's best preserved pre-industrial mill.
Significance in brief: The cottage is described as an excellent, well-preserved example of late Federalist architecture and is tied to the Aldrich family, a locally prominent Quaker family. The saw mill is described as a rare, well-preserved small-scale pre-industrial mill and Uxbridge's best preserved example. Together they show how the family used the site for milling and wheelwright work in the mid-nineteenth century.
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 83004103, listed October 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Aldrich St., Uxbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | October 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004103 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; original owner Daniel H. Aldrich |
| Architectural style | Late Federalist (cottage, with Greek Revival style ell); late Federalist/utilitarian (saw mill) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The cottage's present use is the same as its original use, a residence. The saw mill is listed as vacant and was partially demolished in the 20th century. |
| Acreage | 10.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.02745, -71.64266 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 83004103.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5216383
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.