Taft, Aaron, House
Why it's listed
This timber-frame house on Hazel Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, dates to about 1749 according to the town's 250th anniversary history. The original section is the west front of the building, a rectangular structure with a central chimney, granite foundation and gambrel roof. The asymmetrical facade has two windows south and one north of the central entry, with moulded window caps set into the cornice. Later changes include a Greek Revival entry from the 1840s and a rear ell from the mid-20th century. It is one of only five 18th-century gambrel cottages remaining in Uxbridge, and it keeps the character of a house type once common in the area. Aaron Taft is named as the first owner, though little is known about the owners. J.S. Taft, a farmer and lumber dealer, held the property through much of the 19th century and operated a small mill pond and sawmill nearby. The house retains its original use as a residence and its rural setting of fields and woods.
Significance in brief: It is one of only five surviving 18th-century gambrel cottages in Uxbridge and preserves a once-popular house type. It is an exceptionally fine, well-preserved example of mid-18th-century vernacular architecture. It is also tied to the settlement of Uxbridge by the Taft family.
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 83004134, listed October 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Hazel St., Uxbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | October 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004134 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Timber-frame vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence, as it was originally; the form lists a garage as an outbuilding. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.07993, -71.65149 (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 83004134.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4662473
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.