Cliff Cottage
Why it's listed
Cliff Cottage is a stone house at 787 Mill Street in Southbridge, built between about 1830 and 1855 on a hilltop above the Quinebaug River. Its asymmetrical T-plan, one-and-a-half story form blends Gothic Revival and Greek Revival elements. Paneled stone walls, a curved east end, casement windows and scallop-trimmed dormers mark the Gothic side, while the roof cornice and heavy porch elements reflect Greek Revival taste. The picturesque hilltop siting and use of stone suggest familiarity with the ideas of Alexander Jackson Davis and Andrew Jackson Downing. The house is described as the most unique 19th-century house in Southbridge and a rare example of its style in Central Massachusetts. Houses in this area first appear on an 1855 map and were mostly owned by the McKinstry family, as part of the building boom in Globe Village linked to the Hamilton Woolen Mill. The original occupant is unclear; a carpenter lived there in the 1870s. The building remains in good condition and unaltered, with a barn on the property.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the most unusual 19th-century house in Southbridge and a rare, high-quality example of Gothic Revival design in Central Massachusetts. It is also tied to the mid-19th century real estate development of Globe Village, largely by members of the McKinstry family.
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 89000570, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 787 Mill St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000570 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a residence; condition is good, with no major alterations and not moved. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.08386, -72.04093 (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 89000570.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5132572
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.