Drew, Elvira, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1904 at 42 Abbott Street in Worcester, this Colonial Revival three-decker is a well-preserved example of a housing type common in the city. It has a side-hall plan with a jog, wood clapboard siding, shingle bands between stories, and an unusual cross-gable roof. The asymmetrical facade features a three-tier porch with slender Tuscan columns under a pedimented portico, a three-story bay window with floral stained glass, and paired brackets along the cornice. The house stands where three-decker development reached the western edge of the city's West Side, near a more fashionable residential zone. Early tenants were largely white-collar workers such as salesmen, a nurse, a cashier, a stenographer, a bookkeeper and a manager. In the 1920s the building was owned and occupied by the Hoey family. It was listed for its representative role in this westward expansion and for the quality of its Colonial Revival detailing, with no significant alterations recorded.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it represents the westward extension of three-decker development into Worcester's fashionable residential area in the early 20th century. It is also an unusually well-preserved and well-detailed local example of Colonial Revival detailing on a three-decker. It meets criteria A and C at the local level.
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 89002384, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 42 Abbott St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002384 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival Three-Decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good, with no major alterations; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.26246, -71.82146 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 89002384.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5368114
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.