Coddington School
Also known as: Quincy Junior College
Why it's listed
Built in 1909 at 26-44 Coddington Street in Quincy Center, this three-story red brick school was designed by Boston architect Charles A. Brigham. It is considered Quincy's best Colonial Revival school building. The rectangular plan is topped by a composite hip roof, and a slightly projecting hip-roofed pavilion dominates the front. Pairs of six-over-six windows light the lower floors, arched windows mark the third floor, and a granite arch and bracketed balcony frame the central entrance. Modillions under the eaves and granite string courses add detail. The school replaced an 1855 Coddington School, which was moved 100 feet and later demolished. Construction followed Quincy's population growth and a school building campaign that ran from the 1890s through the 1920s. Few schools from that era remain unaltered. The name honors William Coddington, an early benefactor who left land to support public schools. Since the early 1960s the building has served Quincy Junior College, and it sits among other institutions in Quincy Center.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it Quincy's best example of Colonial Revival school architecture and the work of a noted Boston architect. It also reflects Quincy's population growth and the school building campaign of the 1890s to 1920s, and it is one of the few schools of that period left unaltered.
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 89001323, listed September 20, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 26--44 Coddington St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 20, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001323 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles A. Brigham (architect) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is stated as good, with no major alterations. Since the early 1960s the building has been used as Quincy Junior College. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.25243, -71.00207 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 89001323.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5139955
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.