Goldthwaite Block
Why it's listed
Rising four stories on Main Street in downtown Brockton, directly across from City Hall, this 1892 commercial building was erected by Charles Herbert Goldthwaite to house the apothecary his uncle Emerson had founded in 1867. The two men opened Brockton's first drug store in 1884. The facade combines yellow Roman brick with red terra-cotta, with piers, spandrels bearing the building's name and the date 1892, and copper-clad oriels in the outer bays. Scotsman J. Westwood, who arrived in Brockton in 1890, is recorded as architect, a rare survival of a name for buildings of the period. The upper floors remain largely original, while the storefronts were changed repeatedly and rebuilt in 1979 when the building became elderly housing. It is significant as a fine example of Victorian commercial design and as part of the city's largest surviving group of unaltered nineteenth century buildings, echoing the materials of City Hall.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a major local example of Victorian commercial design, notable for its architectural detail. It is also an integral part of the largest and most prominent group of unaltered 19th century buildings remaining in Brockton, and its materials echo Brockton City Hall across the street.
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 82004427, listed April 15, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 99-103 Main St., Brockton |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | April 15, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004427 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | J. Westwood |
| Architectural style | Victorian commercial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Upper floors remain in original condition; storefronts were altered several times, and in 1979 the building was converted to elderly housing with a new three-bay storefront similar to the original. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.08334, -71.02020 (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 82004427.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5580373
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.