Whitmore, Enoch, House
Why it's listed
This farmstead in northeastern Ashburnham, close to the New Hampshire line, centers on a Federal-style house and a large barn reached by a dirt lane lined with stone walls and sugar maples. The house follows the connected-farmstead pattern common in northern New England: a two-story, five-bay main block, a 1½-story kitchen ell, a summer kitchen and a workshop with a three-hole privy. It probably dates from soon after 1818, when Enoch Whitmore's father conveyed the farm to him. Vinyl siding and later changes hide some details, but the form and framing remain legible. The barn was built in 1848. The property is significant for Whitmore's role in aiding fugitives from slavery. In 1847 the Boston Vigilance Committee sent Josiah Thomas, a runaway from Maryland, with his wife and children to Whitmore's mill operation. Thomas worked outdoors and remained in Ashburnham. The house is also valued as an example of its architectural type and period.
Significance in brief: The nomination ties the property to Enoch Whitmore, a mill owner who in 1847 sheltered and employed the fugitive Josiah Thomas, who had been sent by the Boston Vigilance Committee. It also argues the house and barn are good examples of a northern New England connected farmstead from the late Federal period. The property is part of the Underground Railroad in Massachusetts multiple property listing.
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 07001362, listed January 9, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 12 Daniels Ln., Ashburnham |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | January 9, 2008 |
| Reference number | 07001362 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1818-1865 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government, Social History |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is in use as a single dwelling and the land is still used as agricultural field; the form notes vinyl siding, an asphalt roof and modern kitchen alterations. |
| Acreage | 19.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.69046, -71.97079 (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 07001362.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5379340
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.