Bigelow Tavern Historic District
Why it's listed
Along Worcester Street in West Boylston, a small group of buildings marks what was once the town's only commercial center. The district covers about 1.6 acres and holds three contributing buildings: Bigelow's Tavern, a store and a distillery, all dating from roughly the 1780s to 1811. Five later sheds and a garage do not contribute. The tavern is a timber-frame, two-and-a-half-story structure with a center chimney, granite foundation and a main facade facing south. Its molded cornice, corner quoins and projecting window caps relate it to the Georgian style. The store and distillery are simpler vernacular buildings. Originally owned by Major Ezra Beaman, the properties stayed in one family for four generations. Ezra Bigelow took out an innholder's permit in 1811 and operated the tavern until 1822 while serving as town clerk and selectman. Taverns like this one worked as local news exchanges and meeting places, and this one also warmed churchgoers between Sunday services. The district is valued for that early commercial and social role.
Significance in brief: The three buildings formed the only commercial center of the original West Boylston town center from about 1810-1811 until the mid-19th century, and stayed in one family for four generations. The tavern also served as a social, political and business gathering place and offered churchgoers warmth between Sunday services. Ezra Bigelow, who ran it from 1811 to 1822, held several town offices.
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 92000043, listed September 24, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 60, 64 and 65 Worcester St., West Boylston |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | September 24, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000043 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Colonial: Georgian; Early Republic: Federal; Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic functions were tavern, general store and distillery. Current uses are single dwelling, secondary structure and museum. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.36518, -71.78120 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 92000043.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4906820
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.