Greendale Branch Library
Why it's listed
Greendale Branch Library, at 470 West Boylston Street in Worcester, is a one-storey brick building on a high basement under a tile roof. Completed in 1913 and designed by Lucius Briggs while with the firm of Frost, Briggs and Chamberlain, it shows elements of Spanish Mission architecture. Its symmetrical facade is dominated by a projecting central pavilion with a carved stone doorway framed by Corinthian pilasters, consoles and a semi-circular pediment. Geometric brickwork and limestone trim decorate the walls. A plaque credits the site to the manufacturers of Greendale, including Norton Company and Osgood Bradley Car Company. The library belongs to Worcester's effort to extend service beyond the main library on Elm Street. Book delivery began in Greendale in 1895, and around 1912 Andrew Carnegie gave the city $75,000 for three branch libraries. Cornerstones for all three were laid on March 17, 1913. The building has not been altered or moved and still serves as a library owned by the city.
Significance in brief: The building is recognized for its architecture, with Spanish Mission elements, and for its role in community development as one of three Carnegie-funded branch libraries. It was built where no branch libraries had existed in outlying parts of the city before 1914. The site was donated by Greendale manufacturers.
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 80000511, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 470 W. Boylston St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000511 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Lucius Briggs of Frost, Briggs & Chamberlain |
| Architectural style | Elements of Spanish Mission |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a library; unaltered and not moved according to the form. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.30740, -71.79921 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 80000511.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5603812
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.