Farnum, R., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1875-1880 at 20 Oak Street in Uxbridge, this 2½-storey clapboard house is an ornate local example of Victorian Gothic design. It rests on a dressed granite foundation and follows a side-hall plan with an asymmetrical gabled east facade. Notable features include double entry doors, a porch with Gothic decorative motifs, bargeboards and a pierced apron in the gable. Similar detailing appears on the south side, which has a two-storey bay window and a rear porch. A stable and a garage remain on the small lot, and no major alterations are apparent. The only known owner, R. Farnum, appears on an 1898 map and was probably a member of the large Farnum family that settled in Uxbridge in the early eighteenth century, though no specific information about him has been found. The house was listed for its architecture rather than any historical associations, as one of the town's most ornate and well-preserved Victorian Gothic buildings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant mainly for its well-preserved design, as one of Uxbridge's most ornate and best-preserved examples of Victorian Gothic architecture. It has no known historical associations. It is said to retain integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and feeling.
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 83004119, listed October 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 20 Oak St., Uxbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | October 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004119 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | No major alterations apparent; present use is the same as the original residential use. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.07945, -71.62548 (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 83004119.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7273624
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.