Cotting, John, House
Also known as: Knights of Colombus Building
Why it's listed
Facing the town common on Main Street in Marlborough's historic center, this two-and-a-half-story house is a temple-front example of Greek Revival design. Its gable-ended facade carries a pedimented portico with four two-story Doric columns, and the clapboarded walls have windows capped by molded pediments. A lower two-story ell was added at the rear near the end of the 19th century. The interior has changed little, retaining a tin ceiling in the front hall and window moldings that echo the exterior. The house was built in 1851 for John F. Cotting, who served as selectman and postmaster. His family included a physician who arrived in 1799 and a tavern builder whose inn stood next door until 1948. The Cottings held the house until about 1900. It is listed as a well-preserved example of its style and for its link to a prominent local family. It has since been rehabilitated for office use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an intact, well-preserved and finely detailed temple-front Greek Revival residence. It is also tied to the Cotting family, who were leaders in Marlborough's commercial, civic and social life during the 19th century. It is cited under Criteria A, B and C.
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 84002556, listed August 16, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 74 Main St., Marlborough |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | August 16, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002556 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (temple front) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently renovated, with the interior converted to office use; the rehabilitation was certified in 1982 as meeting the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.34700, -71.54555 (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 84002556.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6227240
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.