Dennison Manufacturing Co. Paper Box Factory
Why it's listed
Rising five stories at the corner of Maple and Valley Streets in Marlborough, Massachusetts, this reinforced concrete and brick factory was built in 1923 for the Dennison Manufacturing Company's paper box division. Boston architects Monks and Johnson, who specialized in factory design, drew the plans, and a large addition in 1927 nearly doubled the plant. The design is a daylight factory with exposed concrete framing, brick spandrels beneath large banks of windows, mushroom columns inside, and no applied ornament. It was built during a city initiative to attract varied industries beyond the shoe trade, and it served as Dennison's sole plant for paper boxes, mainly for the jewelry trade. Dennison sold the box division in 1969 to DesignPak, which kept making boxes until 2006. Some windows and entrances have been replaced, though the integrity of the building is described as minimally affected. The building was recently vacated in anticipation of rehabilitation.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be significant locally under Criterion A for its role in Marlborough's post-World War I effort to broaden its industrial base beyond shoes, and for its link to the Dennison Manufacturing Company. Under Criterion C it is a representative work of Monks and Johnson and an intact 1920s flat-slab, reinforced concrete factory.
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 08001070, listed November 19, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 175 Maple St., Marlborough |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | November 19, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08001070 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923-1958 |
| Architect / builder | Monks & Johnson |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements / Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacated in late 2006 in anticipation of rehabilitation; listed in the form as vacant/not in use. |
| Acreage | 2.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.34093, -71.54312 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 08001070.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5259118
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.