Lyman Block
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 at the corner of Main Street and Legion Parkway in downtown Brockton, this four-story, twelve-bay commercial block is faced in red brick with brownstone lintels and sills and a console-bracketed sheet metal cornice. Incised floral ornament marks the lintels, and granite quoins frame the facade and separate it from the matching Howard Block next door. It was built as the new home of Howard Clark & Co., furniture and casket manufacturers, and named for Lyman Clark, the firm's oldest partner and a major Brockton real estate owner. Upper floors housed a mix of tenants, including a dentist, lawyers and several shops. Over time the tenants shifted toward light industry, and by the 1960s only a pool hall remained upstairs. Many original granite storefront columns were removed by later shopkeepers. In 1979 a 1910 rear addition was removed and the upper floors became elderly housing. The building is significant as part of Brockton's largest surviving 19th century commercial block.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of 19th century commercial development. It was built as the new home of furniture and casket makers Howard Clark & Co. Together with the adjoining Howard Block, it forms part of the largest and most prominent group of 19th century buildings left in Brockton, and became a focal point of the Main Street business district after the 1979 fire that destroyed the Bixby Block. It is listed under criteria 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 82004430, listed April 15, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 83-91 Main St., Brockton |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | April 15, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004430 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1876 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Upper floors were converted to elderly housing in 1979; a 1910 rear addition was removed at that time. Ground floor retains commercial use. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.08370, -71.02021 (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 82004430.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6708005
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.