Hall, Charles A., Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1896 at 68 Mason Street in Worcester, this three-decker sits at the southern edge of a cluster of similar houses along Dewey and Bancroft Streets, in a mixed neighborhood of cottages, three-deckers and factories southwest of downtown. It was first owned by Charles A. Hall, a salesman, and stayed in the Hall family until about 1920. Early residents included a machinist, a shipper, an engineer, a conductor and a razor maker. The wood clapboard and cut shingle building has a side-hall plan, an asymmetrical facade, a projecting porch with turned posts and curved brackets, and a squared bay with paired windows and a gable. That bay form was uncommon in the city's southern part. Bracketed cornices and stained glass stairwell windows survive, and no major alterations are recorded. It was listed for representing the westward growth of multi-family housing and for its well-preserved Queen Anne design, at the local level.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building represents the westward spread of multi-family housing from downtown Worcester in the late 19th century as factory and business jobs grew. It is also described as a remarkably well-preserved example of Queen Anne design in local three-decker construction. It is judged significant at the local level under criteria A and C.
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 89002423, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 68 Mason St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002423 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | 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) | Present use is residential; condition is described as excellent, with no major alterations and no outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25735, -71.82063 (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 89002423.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5074841
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.