Norcross, William, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1785 in the center of Monson, Massachusetts, the William Norcross House is a five-bay, two-story late Georgian building with a center chimney, a hip roof with a distinctive monitor, clapboard siding, quoins and a modillion cornice. Its classical entry has a fanlight and pedimented pilasters. Inside are a second-floor ballroom, a domed room, five working fireplaces and a triple-run staircase. William Norcross, a joiner and cabinetmaker, built it as a tavern and family home and later became a prominent local merchant. After his death in 1803 his son Joel lived there until 1835, when the property was sold to the Monson Woolen Manufacturing Company, which used it as a mill boarding house until 1927. A rear ell gained a second story in 1835, and a major rehabilitation in the 1960s added an enclosed porch. The house is valued for its design and for what it shows about Monson's shift from rural village to mill town.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a well preserved example of high style late Georgian architecture in a rural New England community. Its changing uses, from residence and tavern to mill boarding house, reflect Monson's growth into an industrial town. It is also associated with the Norcross family, who contributed to the town's commercial development.
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 84002450, listed March 29, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 14 Cushman St., Monson |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | March 29, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002450 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (the text says William Norcross, a joiner and cabinetmaker, was the original owner and builder and was likely responsible for construction) |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition and altered, with present uses given as commercial and private residence; the ell was converted to rental units in the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.09863, -72.31293 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 84002450.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8016166
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.