Anderson, Ludwig, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1896 at 4 Fairbanks Street in Worcester, this wood-clapboard three-decker was home to its first owner, Ludwig Anderson, a grocer, and to tenant households on the other floors. It sits on the summit of Vernon Hill, where a number of Swedish families settled in the late 19th century. Many residents worked at the Washburn and Moen South Works or the Quinsigamond Works, both steel wire mills nearby. Early tenants included machinists, a woodworker and wireworkers. The building stayed in the Anderson family through the 1930s. Architecturally, it has a side-hall plan, a shallow hip roof, an asymmetrical facade with a side entry, original two-over-two windows with rope-molded caps, and regularly spaced cornice brackets. The projecting gabled porch is a later replacement. Because it is one of the earliest three-deckers on the hill and a well-preserved Italianate example, it was listed for its local significance in settlement history and architecture.
Significance in brief: It is an early example of three-decker development on the summit of Vernon Hill, where many Swedish families settled and worked in nearby steel wire mills. It is also a well-preserved example of the modest Italianate three-decker design popular in the late 19th century. It was judged significant at the local level.
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 89002355, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4 Fairbanks St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002355 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate Three-Decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential, condition is fair, and a mid-20th century porch replacement is noted. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.24493, -71.79462 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 89002355.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6699176
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.