Taft, Bazaleel, Jr., House and Law Office
Why it's listed
Two linked buildings on South Main Street in Uxbridge, a Federalist house and a small brick law office, were built around 1807 for Bazaleel Taft, Jr. The two-storey timber-frame house has twin interior chimneys, a north ell, granite foundations and a symmetrical east facade with a fine doorway featuring a semi-circular transom and fluted pilasters. The one-storey brick office, with a hip roof and moulded cornice, is unaltered and is one of only two Federal-period commercial buildings surviving in town. Taft, born in 1780, was a Harvard graduate and lawyer who practised in Uxbridge until his death in 1846. He served as state senator, member of the Executive Council and representative to the General Court, helped establish the public asylum at Worcester, and led the Blackstone National Bank from 1829. The property later passed to his son Henry Gordon Taft and then to George S. Taft. It was listed for its architecture and its association with this prominent family.
Significance in brief: The house is an outstanding local example of Federalist architecture, and the law office is a unique local example of early commercial architecture and one of only two Federal-period commercial buildings left in Uxbridge. Both are tied to Bazaleel Taft, Jr., a lawyer, state senator and bank president from a prominent Uxbridge family. The two buildings also kept their original design and materials.
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 83004135, listed October 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 147 S. Main St., Uxbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | October 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004135 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; house built in 1807 by the Hon. Bazaleel Taft for his son |
| Architectural style | Federalist |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | House in use as a residence; the law office's present use is given as "vacant (?)" on the survey form. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.06698, -71.62339 (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 83004135.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4875097
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.