Alden-Delahanty Block
Why it's listed
Built between about 1878 and 1888 at 858 Main Street, this brick commercial block served Globe Village in Southbridge. William E. Alden, who ran a dry goods and grocery store, erected it. It held three ground-floor stores, rental space on the second floor and a meeting hall on the third. In 1888 tenants included a grocery, a dry goods store, a furniture store, a milliner, a barber and a dentist. John J. Delahanty, a furniture dealer and the sole tenant, bought the block in 1899, and his family's business stayed there until 1977. The building is High Victorian Gothic, with ornamental brickwork in varied patterns, rusticated and carved granite trim, segmented and round arched windows, and heavy corbelling at the roofline. Only the upper parapets have been removed, and the original cast iron display window piers remain. It was the only large brick commercial block built in Globe Village, and it is considered among the finest commercial buildings in Southbridge.
Significance in brief: The block is argued to be significant for its link to the town's industrial expansion, the growth of Globe Village, and the elaboration of commercial building late in the century. It is described as one of the most outstanding commercial buildings in Southbridge, with fine brickwork and granite trim, and as the only large brick commercial block ever built in Globe Village. It has remained largely intact.
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 89000572, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 858 Main St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000572 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built by William E. Alden |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; present use is commercial, and the furniture business has operated there under its original firm name. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.08174, -72.04574 (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 89000572.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4713525
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.