Cole, E. Merritt, House
Why it's listed
Located at 386 Main Street in Southbridge, this T-shaped house began as an early 1800s residence built by Jacob Edwards. Sometime between 1855 and 1878, and possibly before 1870, it was remodeled into its present Gothic Revival appearance. Its most distinctive feature is the elaborate relief treatment of the clapboard walls, which includes half timbering, diagonal tongue and groove panels, board and batten motifs and other geometric ornament. A two-story projecting porch, a gable apron, bracketed overhanging eaves and original double-leaf entrance doors remain, and the porch columns are the main later alteration. The house is considered unusual in Southbridge and Central Massachusetts for its style and the quality of its ornament, and it seems to have influenced other local buildings. It is also associated with E. Merritt Cole, an original stockholder of the American Optical Company in 1869 and its first treasurer. It is now used as offices and is in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its link to the town's mid-19th century real estate development and for its stylish, early Stick style design. Its ornament is unusually high in quality for Southbridge and Central Massachusetts, and it appears to have inspired other local houses. It is also tied to E. Merritt Cole, an original stockholder and treasurer of the American Optical 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 89000576, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 386 Main St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000576 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; original house built by Jacob Edwards |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (with early Stick style design elements) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as excellent; present use is offices; originally a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.07678, -72.03521 (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 89000576.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5322061
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.