Allen, Charles, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1870 at 65 Elm Street in Worcester, this clapboard house is described as a unique local example of Second Empire design. It has a square main block with a rear ell, a convexly curved mansard roof with original hexagonal slates, and a slightly projecting central pavilion trimmed with quoins, a modillioned cornice and a low pediment. Paired windows sit in single capped frames. In 1915, owner Ira Barton added Colonial Revival features, including a fanlighted entry, a Palladian window, a Tuscan porch, a terrace balustrade and a one-story library wing. The house replaced a Greek Revival house built by Governor Levi Lincoln, which was moved to West Street. The site is linked to Charles Allen (1797-ca.1869), a lawyer, state legislator, judge, U.S. Representative and Republican Party founder. His heirs built the house, and family members lived there until 1913. It later became offices.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a unique example of Second Empire architecture, with a convex mansard roof, a central pavilion with quoins and a pediment, and original hexagonal slates. It is also tied to Charles Allen, a Worcester lawyer, judge, legislator and founder of the Republican Party. Colonial Revival details added in 1915 remain unaltered.
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 80000579, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 65 Elm St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000579 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Second Empire (with Colonial Revival details added 1915) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as offices since the mid-20th century; the exterior is reported unaltered since the 1915 additions. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.26575, -71.80876 (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 80000579.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5075083
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.