Beaver Street Historic District

Beaver Street in Worcester's Main South neighborhood holds a row of five wood-shingled three-decker houses at 31 to 39 Beaver Street, all built around 1916. They were part of the early 20th century subdivision of the Marble Estate, on the edge of the fashionable Woodland Street area. Each house shares the side-hall plan and side-wall bay windows, while roofs and porches vary, including hip and gable forms, tiered porches with Tuscan columns, and pedimented gables. The first owners were mostly working-class Irish families, with occupations such as kindling wood dealer, machinist, laborer, diemaker and electrician. Electric streetcar service on Main Street and growing nearby factories drew such residents to the area. The group is considered the best surviving row of period three-deckers in the southern part of the city, with five contributing buildings and two modern garages that do not contribute. It was listed for its association with neighborhood growth and for its Colonial Revival design.