Thomas Nichols Three Deckers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas Nichols Three Deckers
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At left: 68 and 80 West Britannia
At right: 88 West Brittania (non-contributing) |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 68, 80, 88 W. Britannia St., Taunton, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1914 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| MPS | Taunton MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002097 |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 1984 |
The Thomas Nichols Three Deckers are three old, special houses in Taunton, Massachusetts. You can find them at 68, 80, and 88 West Britannia Street. These buildings were all built in 1914 by a man named Thomas Nichols. He was a real estate speculator, which means he bought land and built houses to sell them. Two of these houses, numbers 68 and 80, are very important. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means they are recognized for their unique look and because houses like them are rare in Taunton. House number 68 has been changed a bit since then.
What are Triple-Deckers?
A triple-decker is a type of house with three floors. Each floor is usually a separate apartment. They are often made of wood and have a flat roof. These houses were very popular in many industrial cities in New England. They offered homes for many families in a small space. However, they were not very common in Taunton, Massachusetts. This makes the Thomas Nichols Three Deckers quite special for the city.
Where are These Houses?
The Thomas Nichols Three Deckers are located north of downtown Taunton. They are on the south side of West Britannia Street. This area is close to the Reed and Barton Complex. This complex was once a big factory that employed many people in the city. So, these houses were probably built for workers who needed a place to live nearby.
What Do They Look Like?
These three houses were built to look almost the same. They are made of wood and have flat roofs. Originally, they were covered with wooden shingles. They also had special corner posts called pilasters. The roofs had wide edges called eaves with decorative blocks called modillion blocks.
Over time, some of the houses have changed:
- Number 80 still looks mostly like it did when it was built. It has the original wooden shingles, pilasters, and modillion blocks.
- Number 68 has been changed. Its outside is now covered with wooden clapboards and a different type of siding. The modillion blocks on its roof are also gone.
- Number 88 has changed the most. It is now covered with aluminum siding. It also does not have the original features like pilasters or modillion blocks.
All three houses have a unique design on the front. On one side, they have a three-story porch. These porches have round columns to hold them up. At the top of the third floor, there is a wide decorative band called an entablature. On the other side of the front, there is a projecting bay window. This bay window sticks out and has multiple sides, making it a polygonal bay.
Who Built Them?
These houses were built around 1914. They were likely built by Thomas Nichols himself. He was a well-known person in Taunton who developed a lot of real estate. This means he bought land and built houses on it to help the city grow.
