Harrington, Theodore, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1850 at 77 Hamilton Street in Southbridge, this two-and-a-half-story house is a well-preserved example of the Greek Revival style. It has a three-bay, side-entry plan with a gable-front pediment, a form that dominated New England house building from about 1830 to 1855. Details include a heavy pediment with internal frieze, paneled pilasters with capitals, and a doorframe with three-quarter sidelights, a transom and an original two-panel door. Siding has been applied, but the main architectural qualities remain. The house was among the first built on Hamilton Street when it opened in 1850, near Center Village, where town leaders and businessmen built suburban estates. Its first owner, Theodore Harrington, was a member of the Harrington Cutlery Company, the oldest cutlery maker in Southbridge, founded by his father in 1818. The house is now multi-family housing and is in good condition.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the development of Southbridge's Center Village and to the town's cutlery industry. It is also a high-quality example of the gable-front, three-bay, side-entry Greek Revival form that was popular in New England between 1830 and about 1855. It is significant at the local level.
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 89000557, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 77 Hamilton St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000557 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; present use is multi-family residential. Hipped dormers were probably added in the early 20th century, and the exterior is covered in asbestos or synthetic siding. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.07713, -72.03471 (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 89000557.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7781815
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.