Giguere, Thomas, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1926 at 18 Fairhaven Road in Worcester's Greendale neighborhood, this three-decker belongs to the final phase of three-family house construction in the area's suburban subdivisions. Streetcar connections and expanding industry had fueled a residential boom, and many Swedish families settled nearby through recruiting by the Norton Company. By the time this house went up, automobile commuting was spreading and the neighborhood was becoming more ethnically varied. The first owner was Thomas Giguere, a machinist, and early tenants included a molder, an assistant purchasing agent, a riveter and another machinist. Architecturally, the side-hall, gable-roofed building is clad in clapboard on the first story and shingle above. Its full-length porch rises to three tiers at the entry, topped by a pedimented portico and supported by triple columns. Triple windows and a column of three oriels on the west side add detail. The house is remarkably well preserved and was listed for both its neighborhood history and its design.
Significance in brief: It represents the suburban, multi-family housing that characterized Greendale in the 1920s, when working-class ethnic families settled near nearby factories. It is also an unusually well-preserved and well-detailed example of Colonial Revival three-decker design from the last period of local three-decker construction.
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 89002356, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 18 Fairhaven Rd., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002356 |
| 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) | Present use is residential; condition is very good with no major alterations. A three-car garage stands on the lot. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.30898, -71.79734 (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 89002356.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7790023
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.