Roebuck Tavern

N/A Located in the historic center of Wrenthan, the Roebuck Tavern presently occupies 4 acre of land and is set back twenty feet from Dedham Street. The lot on which it stands is unelevated; landscaping features of note are four maple trees which serve as a buffer between the house and a municipal parking lot. The tavern itself consists of a main two story, center entry section built ca. 1795 and a one story rear ell built in two periods during the 19th century. Typically federal in design, the Main block of the Roebuck Tavern is a five bay, rec- tangular plan structure with twin interior chimneys. Rising from a granite foundation, the house is covered with clapboards and enclosed by a pitched roof. Fenestration throughout the main portion of the building is 12/12 sash.

The building's five bay symmetrical facade (south elevation ) is framed by a molded boxed cornice and narrow cornerboards.: Its focal point is the center entry which is framed by 3/4 side lights and amelliptical fanligiit. Two of the,three remaining elevations (north and east) have fenestration which is asy- mmetrically aligned. Ihe west end of the bullding, however, contalns symmetrical bays consisting of a center entry and two flanking windows on the tirst story, three windows onthe second level,and two on the third story. This elevation's entry features a fanlight, but it is narrower than the one on the main facade and is capped by a hood which is supported by simple brackets.

Placed at.a right angle to the main section of the building is a rear one story clap- boarded ell with a pitch roof pierced by a single tall chimney. This addition was built in two stages, and although its date is not confirmed, was most likely constructed during the 19th century.

(in one paragraph) Builder/Architect Unknown The Roebuck Taven possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship, as well as documented associations with the development of rentham during the late 18th and 19th centuries. It is significant as one of the town's best preserved examples of residential Federal period architecture and is also important for its re- lationship with a prominent local family in the 18th and 19th centuries. The tavern thus meets Criteria A, B, and C of the National Register of Historic Places. Constructed in 1795 for David Fisher and his familý, the Roebuck Taven was located'ad-!

jacent to Wrentham's major Colonial Period crossroads in the towh's historic centér:*i More importantly, however, it stood on one of the Boston/Providence Turnpikes (Route 1A) which opened early in the 19th century. This new route spurred a period of growth in Wrentham and hada great impacton the early use of the nominated property. Dur ing this era , the building served as avtavern, post office, toll collector's house, as well as a family's residence. Although initially used for these various functions, the building was best known as an inn and tavern and continued to be used in this manner through the early 20th century. The Fisher Family, long associated with the tavern and owners of the property until 1910, were among the community's early settlers in the mid 17th century.

Serving as selectmen in the founding: years of the town, they were influential figures in its develop- ment.