Uxbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States, first colonized in 1662 and incorporated in 1727. It was originally part of the town of Mendon, and named for the Earl of Uxbridge. The town is located 36 mi (58 km) southwest of Boston and 15 mi (24 km) south-southeast of Worcester, at the midpoint of the Blackstone Valley National Historic Park. The historical society notes that Uxbridge is the "Heart of The Blackstone Valley" and is also known as "the Cradle of the Industrial Revolution". Uxbridge was a prominent Textile center in the American Industrial Revolution. Two Quakers served as national leaders in the American anti-slavery movement. Uxbridge "weaves a tapestry of early America".
Peter Rawson Taft was an American lawyer, judge, and legislator. His son Alphonso Taft served as the U.S. Secretary of War (1876), and U.S. Attorney General (1876–1877). Alphonso was the father and Peter was the grandfather of President William Howard Taft.
Hon. Bezaleel Taft Jr. was born in Uxbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts on September 8, 1780 and died in Uxbridge, at age 65 on July 16, 1846. He was a State Senator and Massachusetts politician.
Samuel Taft was a Revolutionary War soldier who later hosted his former commander in Chief, President George Washington, at his home, on his inaugural tour of New England.
The Uxbridge Common District is located in downtown Uxbridge, Massachusetts. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic buildings in this district include the Uxbridge Academy, Uxbridge Free Public Library, the Deborah A. Wheelock House, a blacksmith shop, the First Congregational Church, and the Unitarian Church.
North Uxbridge is a village and a post office in the town (township) of Uxbridge in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The postal zip code is 01538. It is classified as a community or populated place located at latitude 42.088 and longitude -71.641 and the elevation is 266 feet (81 m). North Uxbridge appears on the Uxbridge U.S. Geological Survey Map. Worcester County is in the Eastern time zone and observes DST. North Uxbridge is located approximately 36 miles west-southwest of Boston, and 15 miles southeast of Worcester. The town meeting in 1885 set aside North Uxbridge as a "special district", since its population had exceeded 1000 people. North Uxbridge appeared as a separate Census tract in the 1960 census, with a population of 1882. In 2013, an Uxbridge DIY show, The Garage, with Steve Butler, went worldwide from Steve's garage in North Uxbridge.
Wheelockville is a village in the town (township) of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States. Part of the village centering on Mendon and Henry streets is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Wheelockville Historic District. Wheelockville appears on the Blackstone U.S. Geological Survey Map. The Village receives municipal services from Uxbridge, for fire, police, EMS, School district, public works, and other services. Worcester's Judicial District includes Uxbridge District Court. The geography of Wheelockville includes several other distinct mill villages, including: Hecla and Elmdale.
The Samuel Taft House is a historic house at 87 Sutton Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The main block of the 1+1⁄2 story timber-frame house was built in 1774, and is a typical local variant of Georgian styling, with a gambrel roof, central chimney, clapboard siding, and granite foundation. The house is notable for its association with Samuel Taft, who served in the American Revolutionary War, and hosted George Washington at this house in 1789.
The Hon. Bazaleel Taft House is a historic house at 240 South Main Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The oldest portion of this now-large house was built c. 1780-90 by Bazaleel Taft, and is a fine regional example of late Georgian architecture. The house was adapted for use as a restaurant in the 1960s, which has since closed. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The Bazaleel Taft Jr. House and Law Office are a historic house and law office building at 195 South Main Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. On November 7, 1983, they were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The House and Law office reflect the Georgian Architecture Style.
The Moses Taft House is an historic house at 50 South Main Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. It is a two-story wood-frame structure, five bays wide, with a side gable roof, central chimney, clapboard siding, and granite foundation. Built c. 1850–55, it is a fine local example of Italianate architecture, with paneled pilasters at the corners, paired brackets under the eave, and molded caps above the windows. Additions extend the original house to the side and rear.
The Aaron Taft House is an historic house at 215 Hazel Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States. Built about 1749, it is one of five surviving gambrel-roofed 18th-century houses in the town. It is 1+1⁄2 stories in height, with a side-gabled gambrel roof, clapboard siding, and central chimney. The main facade is asymmetrical, with three window bays, one to the left of the entrance, which is off center, and is adorned with sidelight windows, pilasters, and a simple entablature. It was the birthplace in 1785 of Peter Rawson Taft, the grandfather of President William Howard Taft.
The Zadock Taft House is a historic house at 115 South Main Street in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Probably built in the 18th century, it received its present Greek Revival styling in the 1840s or 1850s. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
The Taft family is an American political family of English descent, with origins in Massachusetts. Its members have served in the states of Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont, and the United States federal government, in various positions such as representative (two), governor of Ohio, governor of Rhode Island, senator (three), secretary of agriculture, attorney general, secretary of war (two), acting secretary of defense, president, and chief justice.
The Judson–Taft House is a historic house located at 46 Pleasant Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. The 2+1⁄2 story wood-frame house was built c. 1845–55, and is one of Uxbridge's most elaborate examples of high style Greek Revival design. The house occupies a site overlooking the center of Uxbridge, and its front yard originally extended all the way to Main Street. Its full two-story portico is supported by Doric columns, and its corner boards are pilastered.
The William Hayward House is an historic house located at 77 North Main Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. This 2+1⁄2 story wood-frame house was built in 1876 for William Hayward, a banker and business partner of the locally prominent mill owner Moses Taft. The house is an excellent local example of Italianate styling, although its elaborate porch is a later c. 1900 modification. The property also has a period carriage house in good condition and has been occupied by the George and Louise Kurzon family for 100 years.
The Rivulet Mill Complex is an historic group of mill buildings located at 60 Rivulet Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States. It was originally built by Chandler Taft. Richard Sayles purchased the mill in 1864 and, after repairs, began the manufacture of shoddy, a yarn made from woolen scraps and used clothing. In 1872 the original mill burned and was totally destroyed. Sayles and Zadok Taft rebuilt on site and continued the business under (later) the name of Sayles, Taft & Co. Later still, after Taft retired, the name became the Richard Sayles Mill. The mill was sold out of the Sayles family in 1910. It was operated by the Uxbridge Worsted Company until the mid-1950s.
The Taft Brothers Block is an historic commercial building at 2-8 South Main Street, in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Prominently located in the town center at the corner of Mendon and Main Streets, it is a three-story brick structure, with modest Late Victorian stylistic embellishments. Its first floor has commercial retail storefronts, while the upper-floor windows are set in openings with granite sills and lintels. Brick corbelling marks the cornice below the flat roof. The upper floor is taller than the other floors, and houses a large auditorium space. It was built in 1896 for Robert and Jacob Taft, operators of a grocery, after the previous building on the site was destroyed by fire.
The Moses Taft House is a historic house at 111 East Wallum Lake Road in Burrillville, Rhode Island. The 1+1⁄2-story side-gable Cape style house was built in 1786, and is a well-preserved example of early Federal architecture. It exhibits the typical five-bay facade, with the entry in the center bay, and a large central chimney. The house underwent a major restoration in the 2000s. Moses Taft, an early owner of the house, was a farmer and operated a nearby grist mill on the Clear River, with Seth Ross, who resided on Eagle Peak Road.
