Borden-Pond House
Why it's listed
Built between 1856 and 1859 on the west slope of Chandler Hill, this granite house at 40 Laurel Street in Worcester is an early Second Empire residence that has been altered but still shows much of its original character. The front section is granite rubble with dressed quoins and window trim, rising from a high basement to a heavy modillioned cornice. Its mansard roof was later squared out to make a full third storey. Two curved granite stairways with cast-iron railings lead to the entrance. Mason and stucco worker John Borden built it, reportedly hoping to outdo a nearby mansion, but sold it unfinished to Lucius Pond in 1861. Pond, a machine manufacturer who made the Ellsworth Gun for the Union Army and served as a state senator, lived there from 1868 until 1875, when he was imprisoned for forging bank note dates. The house is among the few remaining stone villas of its era in the city. It now holds apartments.
Significance in brief: It is presented as an early, important example of Second Empire architecture that keeps its significance despite alterations. It is one of Worcester's few surviving stone villas of the 1850s and 1860s. It is also linked to Lucius W. Pond, a machine manufacturer, state senator and Civil War cannon maker who was later convicted of fraud.
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 80000590, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 40 Laurel St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000590 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; built for (and perhaps by) John Borden, a mason and stucco worker |
| Architectural style | Second Empire (altered) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential apartments; the former stone stable has been converted to a separate house. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.26903, -71.79241 (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 80000590.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4944474
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.