Goldberg Building
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Water and Harrison streets in Worcester, this four-story brick commercial building was erected between 1906 and 1910 on land bought by Jennie F. Goldberg. Its Water and Harrison street facades are yellow brick, with red brick on the other sides, segmentally arched windows, granite sills and a corbelled cornice. No architect or builder could be identified. The building reflects the transformation of Water Street from an Irish neighborhood into a largely Jewish commercial district in the early twentieth century. Ground-floor stores sat below manufacturing space, including a pants factory, and later the Krintzman company used the property. Its Classical Revival design follows the pattern set by downtown Worcester businessmen, and it could fit on any downtown corner. Arkus Drugs occupied the corner until the 1980s. Recent restoration returned the storefronts to their original layout, and the lower floors now hold a restaurant and pub. The period of significance runs from about 1908 to 1957.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be a representative example of Classical Revival commercial architecture, with yellow brick street facades and a corbelled cornice that echo downtown Worcester buildings. It is also important to the city's ethnic history, since Jewish immigrants built, owned and leased it as business space in the Water Street enclave. It also reflects the area's shift from Irish to Jewish residents and its role in clothing manufacturing.
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 07001202, listed November 19, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 97-103 Water St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | November 19, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07001202 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca 1908-1957 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce, European, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored using old photographs as a guide; the first two floors were converted to a restaurant and pub in 2006, with offices also listed as a current use. The third and fourth floors remain unfinished. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.25468, -71.79008 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 07001202.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5579005
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.