Times and Olympia Buildings
Also known as: Slocum and Olympia Buildings
Why it's listed
Two five-story brick commercial buildings stand side by side on Purchase Street in downtown New Bedford. The Times Building, completed in 1897 as the Slocum Building for a furniture merchant, was designed by local architect Nathaniel Cannon Smith in grey Roman brick with limestone trim. The Times newspaper occupied it from 1909 until 1932, when it merged with a rival to form the Standard Times. The Olympia Building followed in 1921, designed by Mowl and Rand of Boston in pressed red brick and limestone with Georgian Revival detailing. Together the two form a U-shaped complex around a rear service court. Both rose on the site of the Greek Revival Parker House Hotel, built in 1834 for John Avery Parker. They reflect the wealth that cotton textiles brought to New Bedford after whaling declined, and they helped extend the business district northward. Both survived early 1970s urban renewal demolitions nearby.
Significance in brief: The Times Building was designed by prominent local architect Nathaniel C. Smith and housed the Times newspaper from 1909 to 1932. The Olympia Building, a fine local example of Georgian Revival design by Mowl and Rand of Boston, gains added importance alongside it. Together they reflect New Bedford's prosperity from cotton textiles and linked the northward growth of downtown around the turn of the 20th century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83000725, listed July 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 908-912 and 880-898 Purchase St., New Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000725 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1897; 1921) |
| Architect / builder | Nathaniel Cannon Smith (Times Bldg.); Mowl and Rand (Olympia Bldg.) |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival (Olympia Building) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in commercial use; the form lists the property as occupied with work in progress, and plans call for restoring the Olympia Building's original storefronts. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Central New Bedford Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.63644, -70.92609 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83000725.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7806572
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.