Sayles, Richard, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1820-1825 at 80 Mendon Street in Uxbridge, this nearly square, two-story house has a hip roof, two interior chimneys and walls of hammered granite ashlar. The symmetrical south facade centers on a panelled door beneath a blocked semicircular light, framed by a projecting granite surround rising to a keystone. Stone blocks were matched for color and size, and the terraced site slopes to a granite retaining wall along Mendon Street. The original owner is unknown, though the design suggests a prominent mercantile or early manufacturing family. The house takes its name from Richard Sayles (1819-1887), a Rhode Island native who worked in Uxbridge woolen mills, supervised construction of the Central Woolen Mill, and later owned the Rivulet Mill. After his death the house was sold to the Calumet Woolen Company, which probably used it for workers' housing. It was listed for its Federalist design, its integrity, and its link to Sayles.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a unique local example of Federalist architecture, notable for its high-quality design and fine granite ashlar construction. It is also associated with Richard Sayles, a local wool manufacturer who owned it after about 1852. It is argued to retain integrity of location, design, materials, setting and workmanship.
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 83004131, listed October 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 80 Mendon St., Uxbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | October 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004131 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federalist |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.07985, -71.56372 (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 83004131.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7328905
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.