National Register of Historic Places listings in Taunton, Massachusetts facts for kids

Taunton, Massachusetts, is a city with a rich history! It's home to many special buildings and places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list is like a hall of fame for important historical sites across the United States. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized for its unique history, architecture, or cultural importance.

These historic places in Taunton tell stories about how people lived, worked, and built their community over many years. From old homes to schools, churches, and even factories, each spot has a piece of Taunton's past to share. Let's explore some of these amazing places!

Historic Homes

Taunton has many beautiful old houses that are listed as historic places. These homes often show us how people lived long ago and the different styles of architecture that were popular.

Grand Houses and Their Stories

• The Charles R. Atwood House at 30 Dean Street was listed in 1984. It's a great example of an older home that is still used today.
• The J.C. Bartlett House on 12 Walnut Street, also listed in 1984, is another well-preserved historic home.
• The C.J.H. Bassett House at 20 Chestnut Street and the W.C. Beattie House at 289 W. Brittania Street are more examples of these charming old residences.
• The George Capron House at 6 N. Pleasant Street is another historic home from 1984 that is still occupied.
• The Samuel Colby House at 74 Winthrop Street and the Abiezar Dean House at 57 Summer Street are also on the list, showing different styles of homes from the past.
• The Fairbanks-Williams House at 19 Elm Street is another notable residence from 1984.
• The Gen. George Godfrey House at 125 County Street and the Richard Godfrey House at 62 County Street are named after important historical figures.
• The Higgins-Hodgeman House at 19 Cedar Street and the Hodges House at 41 Worcester Street also tell tales of Taunton's past residents.
• The Job Knapp House at 81 Shores Street and the William Lawrence House at 101 Somerset Avenue are more examples of the many historic homes in the city.
• The Lord-Baylies-Bennett House at 66 Winthrop Street is commonly known as the Masonic Lodge, showing how some historic homes have changed uses over time.
• The Calvin T. Macomber House at 312 W. Brittania Street and the Theodore L. Marvel House at 188 Berkley Street are also recognized for their historical value.
• The N. S. Mason House at 58 Tremont Street and the McKinstrey House at 115 High Street add to the collection of significant homes.
• The Morse House at 6 Pleasant Street and the Henry Morse House at 32 Cedar Street are two more historic residences.
• The Alfred Paull House at 467 Weir Street and the Sylvanus N. Staples House at 21 Second Street are also on the list.
• The Albert Sweet House at 179 Highland Street and the H.P. Thomas House at 322 Somerset Avenue are recognized for their historical importance.
• The Tisdale-Morse House at 17 Fayette Place and the Capt. David Vickery House at 33 Plain Street are also part of Taunton's historic homes.
• The Vickery-Baylies House at 56 Summer Street and the Peter Walker House at 1679 Somerset Avenue are more examples of the city's rich architectural heritage.
• The Samuel Washburn House at 68 Winthrop Street and the William L. White Jr. House at 242 Winthrop Street are also listed.
• The Abiathar King Williams House at 43 Ingell Street, the Enoch Williams House at 616 Middleboro Avenue, the Francis D. Williams House at 3 Plain Street, and the N.S. Williams House at 1150 Middleboro Avenue show the variety of homes from different eras.
• The Joseph Willis House at 28 Worcester Street and the William Woodward House at 117 Arlington Street complete this impressive list of historic residences.

Homes That Are No Longer Standing

Sadly, not all historic places last forever. The Henry G. Brownell House at 119 High Street was demolished in March 2014. The Jonathan Dean House at 175 Dean Street was also demolished in the mid-1990s. The Winslow Congregational Church at 61 Winthrop Street was demolished in the late 1990s. Even when a building is gone, its history is still remembered.

Important Public Buildings

Taunton has several public buildings that have played a big role in the city's life.

• The Bristol County Courthouse Complex at 9, 11, and 15 Court Street was listed in 1978. Courthouses are important places where laws are upheld and justice is served.
• The Central Fire Station at Leonard and School Streets was listed in 1984. It's special because it's the third oldest fire station in the entire country that is still being used! Imagine all the history and brave firefighters who have worked there.
• The East Taunton Fire Station on Middleboro Avenue and the Kilmer Street Fire Station on Oak and Kilmer Streets are also recognized for their historical significance.
• The US Post Office-Taunton Main at 37 Taunton Green, listed in 1987, is where people have sent letters and packages for many years.
• The Taunton Public Library on Pleasant Street, listed in 1984, is a place where generations of Taunton residents have gone to learn and read.
• The Weir Engine House at 530 Weir Street and the Whittenton Fire and Police Station on Bay Street are also historic public service buildings.

Schools and Education

Schools are important parts of any community's history, and Taunton has a few on the list.

• The Barnum School at 25 Barnum Street was listed in 1984 and is still occupied. It has seen many students pass through its doors over the years.
• The Hopewell School on Monroe Street was also listed in 1984.
• The Leonard School on W. Brittania Street, the School Street School on School and Fruit Streets, and the Washington School at 40 Vernon Street are all historic school buildings.
• The Walker School on Berkley Street is another historic school building in Taunton.

Churches and Places of Worship

Churches are often central to a community's history and architecture.

• The Pilgrim Congregational Church at 45 Broadway, listed in 1984, is a beautiful example of historic church architecture.
• The St. Mary's Complex at Broadway and Washington Street, listed in 1984, includes several important church buildings.
• The St. Thomas Episcopal Church at 115 High Street, listed in 1984, is another significant religious building.
• The North Taunton Baptist Church at 1940 Bay Street is also a historic place of worship.
• The Union Congregational Church at W. Brittania and Rockland Streets and the Westville Congregational Church at Winthrop and N. Walker Streets are also listed.
• The Union Mission Chapel-Historical Hall on Cedar Street and the Winthrop Street Baptist Church at 39 Winthrop Street are also recognized.

Industrial and Commercial Sites

Taunton was once a busy industrial city, and some of its old factories and businesses are now historic landmarks.

• The Cohannet Mill No. 3 at 120 Ingell Street, listed in 2006, has been restored and is now apartments called Robertson on the River. This shows how old buildings can find new life!
• The Albert Field Tack Company at 19 Spring Street, listed in 1984, was once a place where tacks (small nails) were made.
• The Old Colony Iron Works-Nemasket Mills Complex on Old Colony Avenue, listed in 1984, reminds us of Taunton's manufacturing past.
• The Old Weir Stove Company on W. Water Street, listed in 1984, was another important industrial site.
• The Reed and Barton Complex at W. Brittania and Danforth Streets, listed in 1984, was a famous silver manufacturing company.
• The M.M. Rhodes and Sons Company at 12 Porter Street, listed in 2016, is another example of Taunton's industrial heritage.
• The Whittenton Mills Complex at Mill River and Whittenton Street, listed in 1984, is a large group of old factory buildings.
• The H.B. Lothrop Store at 210 Weir Street was a historic commercial building.

Other Unique Historic Places

• Brow's Tavern at 211 Tremont Street, listed in 1984, was once a lively gathering place.
• The Buildings at 80 and 88 W. Brittania St. are also listed, showing how groups of buildings can be historically important together.
• Church Green at U.S. 44 and MA 140, listed in 1977, is a historic open space in the city.
• The Harris Street Bridge that spans the Taunton River at Dean and Harris Streets, listed in 1984, is an important piece of the city's infrastructure.
• The King Airfield Hangar on Middleboro Avenue, listed in 1984, is a reminder of early aviation in the area.
• The Lothrop Memorial Building-G.A.R. Hall at Washington and Governor Streets, listed in 1984, is a building with a special purpose, possibly related to veterans.
• The Old Colony Railroad Station at 40 Dean Street, listed in 1984, was once a busy train station.
• The Taunton Alms House on Norton Avenue, listed in 1984, was a place that provided care for people in need.
• The Taunton State Hospital on the W bank of the Mill River at Danforth Street, listed in 1994, was a large hospital complex. Sadly, part of it was destroyed by fire.

Historic Districts

Sometimes, a whole area or group of buildings is considered historic, not just one building. These are called historic districts.

• The Hopewell Mills District at Bay Street and Albro Avenue, listed in 1984, is an area with many historic mill buildings.
• The Taunton Green Historic District includes Broadway, Taunton Green, Main, and Court Streets. Listed in 1985, this area is the heart of downtown Taunton and has many important buildings and open spaces.

Cemeteries

Cemeteries are also important historic sites because they tell us about the people who lived in the past and the history of the community.

• Mount Pleasant Cemetery at Crocker, Cohannet, and Barnum Streets, listed in 2002, is a historic burial ground.
• The Neck of Land Cemetery on Summer Street, listed in 1985, is another historic cemetery in Taunton.

These are just some of the many fascinating historic places in Taunton, Massachusetts. Each one helps us understand the city's past and appreciate its unique heritage!

Images for kids

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  Charles R. Atwood House

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  Barnum School

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  J.C. Bartlett House

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  C.J.H. Bassett House

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  W.C. Beattie House

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  Bristol County Courthouse Complex

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  Brow's Tavern

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  Henry G. Brownell House

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  Buildings at 80 and 88 W. Brittania St.

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  George Capron House

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  Central Fire Station

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  Church Green

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  Cohannet Mill No. 3

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  Samuel Colby House

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  Abiezar Dean House

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  George Dean House

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  Jonathan Dean House

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  Lloyd Dean House

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  Theodore Dean House

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  Dean-Barstow House

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  Dean-Hartshorn House

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  East Taunton Fire Station

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  Eldridge House

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  Fairbanks-Williams House

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  Albert Field Tack Company

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  Fuller-Dauphin Estate

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  Gen. George Godfrey House

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  Richard Godfrey House

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  Harris Street Bridge

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  Sarah A. Haskins House

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  Higgins-Hodgeman House

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  Hodges House

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  Hopewell Mills District

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  Hopewell School

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  Kilmer Street Fire Station

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  King Airfield Hangar

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  Job Knapp House

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  William Lawrence House

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  Leonard School

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  James Leonard House

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  Ambrose Lincoln Jr. House

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  Asa Lincoln House

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  Gen. Thomas Lincoln House

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  Lord-Baylies-Bennett House

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  Lothrop Memorial Building-G.A.R. Hall

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  H.B. Lothrop Store

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  Calvin T. Macomber House

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  Theodore L. Marvel House

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  N. S. Mason House

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  McKinstrey House

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  Morse House

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  Henry Morse House

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  Mount Pleasant Cemetery

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  Neck of Land Cemetery

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  North Taunton Baptist Church

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  Old Colony Iron Works-Nemasket Mills Complex

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  Old Colony Railroad Station

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  Old Weir Stove Company

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  Alfred Paull House

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  Pilgrim Congregational Church

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  Reed and Barton Complex

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  M.M. Rhodes and Sons Co.

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  St. Mary's Complex

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  St. Thomas Episcopal Church

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  School Street School

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  Sylvanus N. Staples House

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  Stone House

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  Albert Sweet House

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  Taunton Alms House

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  Taunton Green Historic District

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  Taunton Public Library

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  Taunton State Hospital

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  H.P. Thomas House

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  Tisdale-Morse House

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  Union Congregational Church

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  Union Mission Chapel-Historical Hall

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  US Post Office-Taunton Main

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  Capt. David Vickery House

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  Vickery-Baylies House

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  Walker School

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  Peter Walker House

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  Samuel Washburn House

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  Washington School

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  Weir Engine House

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  Westville Congregational Church

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  William L. White Jr. House

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  Whittenton Fire and Police Station

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  Whittenton Mills Complex

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  Abiathar King Williams House

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  Enoch Williams House

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  Francis D. Williams House

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  N.S. Williams House

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  Joseph Willis House

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  Winslow Congregational Church

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  Winthrop Street Baptist Church

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  William Woodward House