Dunbar-Vinton House
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Hook and Hamilton Streets in Southbridge, this small brick building dates to about 1828. It is one and a half stories tall with a gable end, 6/6 sash windows, granite sills and lintels, and a six panel door. A tall arched entrance sits at the far end of the facade, a feature that suggests it may have started as a schoolhouse rather than a home. Local accounts from about 1901 call it the home of Lemuel Dunbar, built by Capt. Calvin Clemence, who died in February 1828, and note that a private school was held there by Mrs. Dunbar. Whether Clemence built it for himself or for Dunbar is undocumented, and its original use remains unresolved. A clapboard addition was made to the west end in the early 1970s, and abrasive cleaning damaged the brick surface, but the building is otherwise intact and well preserved. It is valued locally as a rare and unusual small brick building.
Significance in brief: It is considered significant as a rare small brick residence that may originally have been built as a school, meeting criterion C at the local level. Its tall arched entrance at the end of the facade suggests a schoolhouse design, though published references describe it as a residence. It retains integrity of location, materials, workmanship and design.
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 89000573, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Hook and Hamilton Sts., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000573 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; currently used as a residence. A clapboard addition was made in the early 1970s, and the brick surface was damaged by abrasive cleaning. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.07728, -72.03374 (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 89000573.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5314126
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.