Goulding, Henry, House
Also known as: Goulding, Henry, Mansion
Why it's listed
Built in 1850-1851 at 26 Harvard Street in Worcester, this two-story frame house with a low hip roof is an example of Italianate design. It is believed to have been designed by M.G. Wheelock of Boston and built by Captain Edwin Lamb of Worcester. Its symmetrical facade includes an original entry porch with arched openings and a modillioned cornice, and the windows have molded surrounds with consoles and pedimented caps on the first floor. Henry Goulding, a woolen machinery manufacturer, selectman and bank founder, built it on the site of his earlier Greek Revival house and retired there in 1851. He lived there until his death in 1866, and his son occupied it afterward. In 1921 the Goulding heirs sold it to the Swedish Lutheran Church, which converted it to a home for the aged and added a brick and stucco wing in 1925. A modern wing followed in 1978. The form describes it as among the most opulent Italianate houses in the city.
Significance in brief: The form calls it one of the most opulent Italianate houses built in Worcester in the mid-nineteenth century. It is also tied to Henry Goulding, an early local manufacturer of woolen machinery who was active in banking and civic life. Its later use as a Swedish Lutheran home for the aged is part of its history.
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 80000564, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 26 Harvard St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000564 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | M.G. Wheelock of Boston (architect, believed); Captain Edwin Lamb of Worcester (builder) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a home for the aged at the time of the 1977 inventory; a new wing was completed in 1978. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.26934, -71.80176 (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 80000564.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5722106
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.