Chamberlain-Flagg House
Why it's listed
Located at 2 Brookshire Drive in Worcester, this timber-frame farmhouse is dated to roughly 1725-1775. It has a rectangular main block with a central chimney and a two-storey wing on the west side. The facade is nearly symmetrical, with a center entrance, 12/12 windows on both floors and a chimney set on the front slope of the roof, which suggests early additions. A Colonial Revival entry, side porches and an exterior east chimney were added in the early twentieth century. The area was settled after 1742 by Jacob Chamberlain and his descendants, so the earliest associations are probably with that family. Elisha Flagg appears as the owner from 1800 through 1851, and the house stayed in the Flagg family until 1930, when it was known for the family's live peacocks. A developer who bought the land intended to demolish it, but the house was sold with a large lot. Its apparent age and well-preserved interior mark it as one of Worcester's best remaining eighteenth-century houses.
Significance in brief: It is thought by various sources to be among the oldest houses in Worcester. Its nearly symmetrical three-window, center-entry facade resembles early eighteenth-century houses of the area. It retains a well-preserved interior and is described as one of the best remaining eighteenth-century houses in the city.
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 80000519, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 Brookshire Dr., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000519 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Timber-frame vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains intact and in use as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.28450, -71.83336 (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 80000519.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5069570
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.