Richardson, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1819 on Chockalog Street in rural Uxbridge, this two-storey timber-frame farmhouse rests on a hammered granite foundation and has a central chimney and an eastern ell. Its symmetrical front has a Federalist entry with narrow pilasters, an entablature, a cornice and a semicircular transom bearing the initials J.R. and the year 1819. Some original 12/12 and 12/8 windows survive, while other sash dates from the late nineteenth century, and aluminum siding was added in the 1970s. Joseph Richardson, a farmer born in Burrillville, Rhode Island, and brother-in-law of Bazaleel Taft, bought the surrounding farm in the early nineteenth century. He became one of Uxbridge's largest landholders and wealthiest citizens, and was the first Democrat elected to represent the town in the General Court. The house later passed to his widow and then to his son William, a farmer who lived there through the nineteenth century. It is valued as a good local example of vernacular Federalist building and for its link to Richardson.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be a good local example of vernacular Federalist-period architecture, with a Federalist entry and a central chimney plan. It is also tied to Joseph Richardson, one of Uxbridge's largest landowners and wealthiest citizens, and the first Democrat elected to represent the town in the General Court.
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 83004129, listed October 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Chockalog St., Uxbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | October 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004129 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federalist/vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence, as it was originally; it has aluminum siding from the 1970s and some late nineteenth-century sash. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.02992, -71.67212 (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 83004129.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6286565
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.