Packard, Moses, House
Also known as: Dahlborg MacNevin Funeral Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1897 at the corner of Main and Florence Streets in Brockton, this two-and-a-half-story house was designed by local architect Fred T. Austin for shoe manufacturer Moses Packard. It combines Queen Anne massing and varied materials with Colonial Revival details. The exposed basement and first story are rough-faced granite, while the upper story and dormers are clapboard. A high hip roof of slate rises above tall brick chimneys, and a three-story corner tower ends in a conical roof with a copper finial. A portico with Doric columns, Palladian dormer windows and stained glass add further detail. The house is significant as an excellent local example of its style and for its link to Packard, who in 1881 was the first to make a shoe sold at a fixed retail price, a $2.99 model that brought him national fame. He also served four terms as an alderman. The building now serves as a funeral home.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of Queen Anne architecture with Colonial Revival detail in Brockton. It is also tied to Moses Packard, a leading Brockton shoe manufacturer who in 1881 was the first to produce a shoe sold at a fixed retail price. The architect's firm, Howard and Austin, produced many fine buildings in Brockton.
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 78000475, listed February 17, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 647 Main St., Brockton |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | February 17, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000475 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1897 |
| Architect / builder | Fred T. Austin |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne with Colonial Revival detail |
| Areas of significance | Art, Politics/Government, Architecture, Invention |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a funeral home; the interior has been altered only enough for that use. Some balustrades have been removed and modern breezeways added. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.07237, -71.01912 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 78000475.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6915914
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.