Dean, Frank L. and Mabel H., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1901 at the corner of Cedar and Linden Streets in Worcester's Lincoln Estate-Elm Park neighborhood, this two-story, three-bay Colonial Revival house has a granite foundation, shingled walls and a high, curved hip roof with dormers. A wraparound porch with Tuscan columns and a front door framed by fluted Ionic pilasters mark the exterior. Inside, the center-hall plan survives largely intact. Oak and painted woodwork, parquet-bordered floors, window seats and a carved living room fireplace give the main rooms their character. The most distinctive feature is the hand-painted decoration: a rose-bower mural in the living room, cloud designs inspired by the Vienna Secession in the library, and stenciling found beneath the hall ceiling. Several original turn-of-the-century bathrooms also remain. Later changes include a columned library embrasure, probably added in the 1920s, and alterations from the 1940s when rooms were rented. The artist of the murals is unknown.
Significance in brief: The nomination points to the house's well-preserved turn-of-the-century interior, especially its hand-painted murals, high-quality Colonial Revival woodwork and original bathrooms. The living room and library murals show late Victorian, Arts and Crafts and Vienna Secession influences. The house also reflects changes in use over time, including conversion to rooming house use in the mid-20th century.
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 02001471, listed December 5, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 10 Cedar St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | December 5, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001471 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Art, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic use as a single dwelling and rooming house; current use is commerce/trade (business/professional). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.26641, -71.79618 (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 02001471.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715476
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.