Bliss Building
Why it's listed
Located just north of Lincoln Square in Worcester, this four-storey brick apartment block at 26 Old Lincoln Street dates from 1888, as shown by a date plaque on its facade. Barker & Nourse designed it for William H. Bliss, son of Harrison Bliss; both men were real estate developers in the Lincoln Square and downtown areas. The symmetrical east facade rises from a rock-faced sandstone foundation to a brick and sandstone parapet with a name plaque. Brick piers divide the wall into three sections and end in terracotta ventilators, while square channeled columns with rosettes frame the center entry. Its style combines Victorian Gothic and Queen Anne elements. The building was once part of a district of brick apartment houses built mostly in the 1880s. Highway construction, urban renewal and neighborhood decline have removed nearly all comparable buildings around the square, leaving this one in original condition and still used as housing.
Significance in brief: The building is an intact example of the brick apartment houses that once formed an early district around Lincoln Square, built largely in the 1880s. Highway construction, urban renewal and residential decline have since demolished virtually all other buildings of this type in the area. It also reflects the work of the Bliss family, real estate developers in Lincoln Square and downtown Worcester.
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 80000497, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 26 Old Lincoln St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000497 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Barker & Nourse |
| Architectural style | Victorian Gothic & Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as currently in original condition and not significantly altered; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.27286, -71.79780 (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 80000497.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4926853
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.