Curtis Building
Why it's listed
Located at 105-109 Main Street in downtown Brockton, this three-story commercial block is faced in red brick with rusticated brownstone trim and Romanesque revival details. Brick piers divide the Main Street front into three bays beneath a corbeled brick cornice, and third-floor windows are round arched. A brownstone panel bears the name of its builder, S.B. Curtis. Sylvanus B. Curtis, from one of Brockton's oldest families, built it around 1898 on a lot bought in 1884 for a record price per square foot. The Curtis family had first prospered in extract manufacturing and then moved into real estate. The building was erected during a period of rapid growth in the local shoe industry, when merchants and professionals were drawn to the city. Although the storefront has been rebuilt several times and some windows altered, the building was recognized as a good example of Victorian commercial design that retains its original character above street level.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a good example of Victorian commercial design with Romanesque revival elements and retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship. It also reflects the Curtis family's rise from extract manufacturing to real estate during Brockton's shoe-industry boom.
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 82004424, listed April 15, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 105-109 Main St., Brockton |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | April 15, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004424 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Sylvanus B. Curtis (architect unknown) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival / Victorian commercial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in fair condition; the Main Street storefront has been rebuilt several times and some second-floor windows have been altered. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.08316, -71.02019 (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.
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 82004424.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5195699
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.