Vermont Building
Why it's listed
Rising six stories above the brick rowhouses of Boston's North End, this 1904 commercial building at Thacher and North Margin Streets was designed by architects Arthur H. Bowditch and Edward B. Stratton and built by W. A. and H. A. Root for Redfield Proctor of the Vermont Marble Company. Its red brick piers and spandrels are trimmed lavishly with Vermont marble in a Beaux Arts manner, a use of marble that may be unique in the Boston area. The company used the ground floor for marble polishing and storage, with its office on the mezzanine, while the open upper floors could be subdivided and rented as office space, a format unusual for the time. The building also reflects the early growth of a marble company whose stone later appeared on major national monuments. Inside, square wooden columns and heavy timber beams remain exposed, and the building stands largely as constructed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building meets Criteria A and C for its Beaux Arts design with extensive marble trim, which may be unique in the Boston area. It is also valued for an innovative plan combining company operations with rentable open upper floors. Its association with the early growth of the Vermont Marble Company adds to its importance.
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 84000421, listed November 13, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6-12 Thacher St., Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | November 13, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000421 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904 |
| Architect / builder | Arthur H. Bowditch & Edward B. Stratton (architects); W. A. and H. A. Root (contractors) |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style brick pier and spandrel structure with Beaux Arts marble detailing |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as excellent condition, unaltered, on its original site, and occupied; it remains largely as constructed inside and out. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.36564, -71.05728 (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 84000421.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7921684
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.