{"nrhp_refnum":"89000548","name":"Wells, George B. and Ruth D., House","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"Durfee Rd.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Southbridge","county":"Worcester County","state":"MA","lat":42.062206271000036,"lon":-72.04966734940777,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1989-06-22","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Industry","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A brick International Style house built in 1932 on Durfee Road in Southbridge, Massachusetts, on about 6 acres of wooded and open grounds. It was designed by Paul A. Wood of Boston for George B. and Ruth D. Wells.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the house is a very early International Style house on the east coast, with steel frame construction, wrap-around windows and a solar orientation. It also reflects the shift of Southbridge's rural outskirts to suburban development, and it is associated with George B. Wells, third-generation president of the American Optical Company, and with Ruth Wells's work at Old Sturbridge Village.","narrative":"Built in 1932 on Durfee Road in Southbridge, this brick house is an early American example of the International Style. Boston architect Paul A. Wood designed it for George B. and Ruth D. Wells, who had traveled in Europe and struggled to find an architect in New York or Boston able to work in the style. The house is a series of block-like forms on a steel frame, allowing floor-to-ceiling and wrap-around windows. Living spaces face east, south and west, while the north side holds passageways, storage and service areas. It was originally painted white, contrasting with black steel casement windows, and had air conditioning. George Wells headed the American Optical Company until 1949, and Ruth Wells was long involved with Old Sturbridge Village. The house stands on part of Cohassel Farm and marks an early stage in the change of this area from rural to suburban. It was listed for its architecture and its link to local development patterns.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":"Paul A. Wood, Boston","architectural_style":"International Style","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Condition described as good; no obvious major alterations; stable outbuilding extensively remodeled; present use listed as Mission House, original use residence.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:13:02.051881-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/11/7935/63793511/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MA/89000548.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/89000548/5d4788a261-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/89000548/5d4788a261-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Unknown authorUnknown author","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SouthbridgeMA_WellsHouse.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Unknown authorUnknown author</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SouthbridgeMA_WellsHouse.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63793511","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_B._and_Ruth_D._Wells_House","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14715486"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/massachusetts/worcester-county/wells-george-b-and-ruth-d-house-89000548/"}