Flagg, Levi, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1901 at 79 Florence Street in Worcester, this three-decker was part of scattered multi-family development in the Florence-Maywood Street area, where streetcar suburbs grew along the western edge of the fashionable Woodland Street district. Levi Flagg, a realtor who owned sixteen other buildings in the city, first held it as a rental property. Later owners included another local realtor and, by 1928, a machinist who lived in the building. Early tenants worked as wireworkers, a blacksmith and a clerk. The house keeps the characteristic side-hall plan but has an asymmetrical three-bay facade more typical of earlier three-deckers. Wood clapboard, a hip roof with paired brackets, a full-length Stick style porch and two side bay windows rising three stories give it unusually rich ornament. Its sash windows have bracketed hoods with saw-tooth molding. It remains in good condition, with no recorded alterations, and is valued as a well-preserved example of local working-class rental housing.
Significance in brief: It is a representative example of early 20th century three-decker construction in the Main South area, built as employment opportunities expanded in the neighborhood and the city. It is also unusually well preserved and well detailed, with an atypical mix of Stick and Queen Anne style features. 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 89002362, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 79 Florence St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002362 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Stick/Queen Anne style Three-Decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition with no major alterations; present use is residential, the same as its original use. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25064, -71.82603 (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 89002362.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6535403
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.