Taft, Hon. Bazaleel, House
Why it's listed
Set at the junction of Ironstone Road and South Main Street in Uxbridge, this clapboard house dates to about 1780-1790, though the Taft family farm it occupies was held from the early eighteenth century and an earlier construction date is considered possible. The main block is a 2½-storey timber-frame structure on a dressed stone foundation, with a hip-on-hip roof, two interior chimneys, a symmetrical five-opening facade and three pedimented dormers. The center entry has a fluted-pilaster surround with a pediment. Additions built for restaurant use do not cut into the original frame. The house was built for Bazaleel Taft (1750-1839), an adjutant in the Revolution, the town's largest landholder, a Federalist, state senator, long-serving General Court representative and Executive Council member. After his death it passed to his son-in-law Joseph Thayer, a lawyer and railroad and canal supporter. It was listed for its architecture, its Taft family associations and its preserved integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding local example of high-style Georgian architecture that keeps almost all of its original design despite modern additions. It is also tied to three generations of the prominent Taft family and to Bazaleel Taft's long political career. The form says it meets criteria A, B and C.
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 83004136, listed October 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S. Main St., Uxbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | October 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004136 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built for Hon. Bazaleel Taft |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Later used as a restaurant, with two-storey wings added to the east and north around 1970; the form describes the additions as not contributing to the significance. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.06692, -71.61034 (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 83004136.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16995786
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.