Dworman, David, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1926 at 159 Providence Street in Worcester, this Craftsman style three-decker was constructed by the Dworman family, who worked as carpenters, contractors and realtors. It faces the Vernon Hill Playground, in an area where Jewish middle-class families moved from the lower Providence Street neighborhood on Grafton Hill. The Dwormans appear to have built much of the three-decker housing in the Woodford Street area during the 1920s, and this house served as a family residence with tenants on other floors. The building has a side-hall plan, a hip roof with a central front dormer, a recessed porch on squat square posts, and a three-story projecting side bay capped by a pedimented gable with a diamond stained-glass light. Wide clapboard covers the first story and shingle the upper two. It was listed for its link to the neighborhood's development and as a notably well-detailed example of late three-decker design.
Significance in brief: It is tied to the Jewish, middle-class, multi-family neighborhood that grew along Providence Street in the Vernon Hill highlands in the 1920s, and to the Dworman family, who appear to have developed much of the area. It is also a well-preserved, finely executed Craftsman three-decker from the last era of local three-decker 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 89002430, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 159 Providence St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002430 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Dworman Building Company |
| Architectural style | Craftsman |
| 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 excellent, with no major alterations; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.24483, -71.79122 (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 89002430.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5233138
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.