Southwick, Israel, House
Why it's listed
This two-storey frame house at 70 Mendon Street in Uxbridge was built around 1860-1865 for Israel M. Southwick and remodelled about 1890. It rests on a dressed granite foundation under a pitched roof, with mostly 2/2 sash windows, bracketed window caps and a cornice with paired brackets. The symmetrical facade has a center entry topped by a Palladian motif at the second storey and a later dormer. A Queen Anne porch with a pedimented entry, circular pavilion and spiralled columns on panelled bases was added in front. Southwick was a wool manufacturer and master mechanic. In 1853 he and his brother-in-law Richard Sayles rented the Central Woolen Mill and made fancy cassimeres. During the Civil War the mill ran around the clock on government cloth contracts for uniforms. In 1866 the two men bought the Rivulet Mill, though Southwick sold his interest around 1872. The house is valued for this association and as a well-preserved local example of Italianate architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the house's association with Israel M. Southwick, a local wool manufacturer and master mechanic. It also calls the house one of Uxbridge's most fully developed and well-preserved examples of Italianate architecture. The house retains integrity of location, design, 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 83004133, listed October 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 70 Mendon St., Uxbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | October 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004133 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate & Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a private residence, the same use as the original; the form describes alterations including Queen Anne remodelling around 1890, 20th-century shingles and a partially glazed porch. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.07846, -71.62532 (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 83004133.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6087217
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.