First Minister's House
Also known as: Kuniholm House
Why it's listed
Built in 1792 on a rise set back from Elm Street in the center of Gardner, this two-story timber-frame house has a square plan, granite foundation, white clapboards and a low hipped roof with two interior end chimneys. The five-bay facade centers on an entrance with Ionic pilasters, a triangular modillioned pediment and a semi-circular arched transom. Quoined corners, a deep modillion cornice and richly capped windows add classical detail, and the window caps continue along the side elevations, which were usually left plain. Inside are wideboard floors, exposed beams, original mantels and hand-hewn pegged beams in the attic. The Reverend Jonathan Osgood, the town's first minister, had it built; he also served as the town's physician and later sat in the state legislature. A later owner, Deacon Lawrence, is said to have used the house as a stop on the underground railroad. It is regarded as Gardner's finest late Georgian building.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it Gardner's most sophisticated and finest example of late Georgian architecture, worthy of statewide interpretation of the style. It is also associated with Osgood, the town's first minister, physician and later state legislator. Its side-elevation window caps and low hipped roof are noted as distinctive features.
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 79000372, listed November 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 186 Elm St., Gardner |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | November 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000372 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1792 |
| Architect / builder | Rev. Dr. Jonathan Osgood |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a private residence, occupied, with 20th-century office and garage additions at the rear; described as having well-kept grounds. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Within district | Gardner Uptown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.57409, -71.98278 (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 79000372.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453340
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.