Brown, E., House
Why it's listed
Built between about 1805 and 1820 at 3 Sutton Street in Uxbridge, this two-storey house follows the popular central-chimney plan common in the area. What sets it apart is its Federalist decoration. Narrow pilasters frame the south facade and support an ornate cornice. The central entry has pilasters, a band of lozenges, a frieze of swags and a cornice with mutules, enclosing a six-panel replacement door, sidelights and an elliptical fan. The ornament appears to be carved wood rather than composition pieces, and much of it resembles patterns in Asher Benjamin's early architectural guidebooks, possibly executed by a local carver. The main block rests on hammered granite, while a twentieth-century west wing sits on poured concrete. The house is valued for architectural quality rather than historical associations. It appears on an 1855 map, was owned by E. Brown by 1857, and later passed to the Nolan family. Its design, setting, location and workmanship remain well preserved.
Significance in brief: The house is significant mainly for its well-preserved, exceptionally fine Federalist trim, set against an otherwise vernacular central-chimney design. The entry and cornice are carved wood and resemble patterns from Asher Benjamin's guidebooks. The form notes few known historical associations and says the property meets criterion C.
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 83004109, listed October 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3 Sutton St., Uxbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | October 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004109 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federalist |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a private residence; alterations include 2/1 replacement sash, a screened porch on the east and a west wing added in the twentieth century. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.09024, -71.64962 (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 83004109.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5321760
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.