Babcock Block
Why it's listed
Rising five stories at 600 Main Street in Worcester, this commercial block was built around 1860-1870 and carries a granite post-and-lintel facade that the local survey describes as unique in the city. Its elevations face Main and Austin Streets. The upper-story windows hold double-hung sash with arched muntins in their top halves, while the Austin Street side is faced in pressed brick and studded with star-pattern tie-rod plates. The ground-floor storefront was modernized in the 1960s and some second-floor sash has been replaced, but the building is otherwise intact. It was probably put up around the same time as the neighboring Colton Block for Chester Babcock, a building mover who lived at 2 Austin Street. The earliest known occupant was J.R. Emery & Co., grocers. Granite construction of this kind is rare in Worcester, which is the main reason the building was recorded as significant.
Significance in brief: The form calls it a rare local example of granite construction, with a trabeated granite facade unique in Worcester. Apart from a modernized storefront and some replaced second-story sash, the block is largely intact. It was likely built for Chester Babcock, a building mover, around the same time as the neighboring Colton Block.
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 80000611, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 600 Main St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000611 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Granite post and lintel facade |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use listed as commercial/vacant; storefront altered in the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.26054, -71.80440 (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 80000611.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4837615
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.