Mechanics Block Historic District
Also known as: Mechanics Block; See Also:Mechanics Block Historic District (
Why it's listed
Mechanics Block is a row of 34 two-story brick houses facing Orchard Street and Garden Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Built around 1847 by the Essex Company as part of the new industrial city, the houses are three bays wide, with granite lintels, paired entrances with sidelights and transoms, end chimneys and gabled dormers. Few changes in about 125 years have disturbed their unity, mainly late 19th-century bracketed hoods over the doorways and a handful of enlarged dormers, brick bays and added stories. The block originally held 50 rowhouses. In 1853 the company sold it to the Lawrence Machine Company, with a deed reserving the homes for skilled craftsmen. Later owners included the Everett and Washington Mills. Over time the residents shifted from English, Scottish and native-born workers to Irish-Americans and then Italian-Americans. The district is valued as a surviving example of New England factory housing and a record of the city's working families.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the rowhouses exemplify the history of Lawrence's working people, housing skilled craftsmen and later laborers who worked in the textile mills. They are described as substantially unaltered, excellent examples of New England factory dwellings. The district also reflects the changing ethnic makeup of the neighborhood, from English, Scottish and native-born workers to Irish and later Italian-American residents.
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 73001942, listed April 3, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 107-139 Garden St. and 6-38 Orchard St., Lawrence |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | April 3, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001942 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Essex Company |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, altered in minor ways, and occupied; present use is private residence. Urban renewal was expected to reach the area. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.70952, -71.15451 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 73001942.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6804583
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.