Hon. Bazaleel Taft House facts for kids
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Hon. Bazaleel Taft House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 240 South Main Street, Uxbridge, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1790 |
| Part of | Blackstone Canal Historic District (ID95001004) |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004136 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 7, 1983 |
| Designated CP | August 15, 1995 |
The Hon. Bazaleel Taft House is a very old and important house located at 240 South Main Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The first part of this large house was built around 1780-1790 by Bazaleel Taft. It is a great example of Georgian architecture, a popular building style from that time.
In the 1960s, the house was changed into a restaurant. That restaurant is now closed. Because of its history, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it is a special place worth protecting.
About the Taft House
The Bazaleel Taft House is found south of Uxbridge town center. It sits near Massachusetts Route 122 and Massachusetts Route 146A.
This house is made of wood and has two and a half stories. It has a unique two-level hip roof and its outside walls are covered with clapboards. Some newer parts were added to the east and north sides when it became a restaurant.
The house has two main fronts. One faces west and the other faces south. Both sides have five sections with a main door in the middle. The doors have fancy decorations around them. The lower part of the roof on the west side has three dormer windows.
A Look Back in Time
We don't know the exact year the house was built. However, the land it stands on has been connected to the important Taft family for a long time. This started with Daniel Taft in the early 1700s.
People in the area believe the house was built around 1790 by Bazaleel Taft. He was Daniel's grandson. Like his father, Bazaleel Taft owned the most land in town during his time. He was also very active in local and state government. He served as a state representative and senator. He was also part of the Massachusetts Governor's Council, which helped the governor make decisions.
Later, Bazaleel Taft's daughter, Chloe, and her husband, Joseph Thayer, lived in the house. Joseph Thayer was very important in building the Blackstone Canal. This canal passed through land owned by the Taft family, just east of the house.
The house became a restaurant in the late 1960s and stayed that way until 2008. Since then, the property has been empty.
Cool Stories and Secrets
When the house was being changed into a restaurant, something amazing was found. A Hessian sword was discovered hidden inside one of the walls! This discovery supported a local story. The legend says that German soldiers, who were mercenaries (soldiers for hire), marched through the Blackstone Valley during the Revolutionary War and visited the property.
During the renovations, workers also found many small, hidden spaces, or 'cubby holes,' throughout the house. No one knew why they were there. This finding supported another local story. People believed these hiding spots were built to help enslaved people escape to Canada using the Underground Railroad.
