Building at 25-27 River Street
Why it's listed
This three-decker at 25-27 River Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts, dates to about 1910 according to Sanborn maps. A clapboard-sided house in a Colonial Revival Vernacular style, it has no recorded major alterations and remains in good condition as a residence. It is one of two similar three-deckers side by side, and its severe Classical look is typical of the 1910s and 1920s. That plainness contrasts with the lacy porches on many three-deckers in the Flats, which were built ten to twenty years earlier. It is regarded as one of the best preserved three-deckers in the Hamilton Street area. It was one of a row of six three-deckers of differing designs built at about the same time on a large plot opposite the Hamilton Woolen Company's New Mill. The company stayed active when many New England textile mills were closing, and that sustained activity fed housing growth in Globe Village until a strike closed it in 1935.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a good example of the triple decker, a regional multi-family housing type, built as the town's eastern section grew. It reflects the plainer Classical style common in the 1910s and 1920s and is one of the best preserved three-deckers in the Hamilton Street area. It also relates to housing growth driven by the Hamilton Woolen Company.
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 89000574, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 25--27 River St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000574 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is stated as good, with no major alterations and no outbuildings. It is still used as a three-decker residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.08228, -72.03870 (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 89000574.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4986556
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.