Boyer, Alexis, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 at 306 Hamilton Street in Southbridge, this clapboard house is a well-preserved example of Queen Anne Vernacular design. It adapts the common gable-front form with a one-story wrap-around porch and elaborate stickwork and jigsaw-cut trim on the gable apron and bargeboard. An outside staircase at the rear is an element often seen on Southbridge houses and is believed to be of French Canadian origin. Hamilton Street was cut through in the 1850s, but this section stayed largely undeveloped until the 1880s, and it became popular with French Canadian families after a separate parish and church were established. The house was built for Alexis Boyer, a builder who put up many two- and three-decker dwellings in the town and trained other carpenter-builders. Boyer was also a leader in the Franco-American community, serving in the State Legislature in 1907-1908 and the State Senate in 1914. The house is recognized for its architecture and its ties to local development.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its link to the town's late-19th century real estate development and for adapting the familiar gable-front form to the Queen Anne style. It is a rare, well-preserved local example with elaborate stickwork and jigsaw-cut trim. Its owner, Alexis Boyer, was a leader in the Franco-American community, a state legislator and senator, and a builder who trained other carpenter-builders.
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 89000560, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 306 Hamilton, Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000560 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | A. Boyer |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is stated as good, with no major alterations, no outbuildings, and the building not moved. It is in residential use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.08152, -72.03729 (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 89000560.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4721413
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.