Hirst, Samuel, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1918 at 90 Lovell Street in Worcester, this three-decker sits in a row of similar houses across from the Columbus Park School. It follows a side-hall plan with a gable roof, wood clapboard siding and shingle bands between stories. The asymmetrical front has a three-tier porch with paired square posts and a pedimented gable portico, beside a three-story bay window. Modillion blocks decorate the cornice, and floral stained glass appears in the upper sash of the front bays. The house matters for two reasons. It marks one of the rare extensions of multi-family three-deckers into the generally single-family, high-status West Side, where such buildings drew white-collar, middle-class residents. In 1920 it was owned and occupied by Samuel Hirst, a timekeeper. It is also the best-preserved and best-detailed three-decker on its street, and it shows little alteration. Its condition is excellent and it remains in residential use.
Significance in brief: It is argued to represent the late westward edge of three-decker development in Worcester's white-collar West Side, where multi-family housing was rare. It is also an unusually well-preserved and well-detailed example of Colonial Revival three-decker design, and the best-preserved in its Lovell Street row.
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 89002420, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 90 Lovell St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002420 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival Three-Decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use, condition described as excellent, with no major alterations; a non-contributing garage is on the lot. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25283, -71.83243 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 89002420.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7411699
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.