Hobbs, Marcus, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1849 by the carpenter Marcus Hobbs, this two-storey frame house at 16 William Street in Worcester combines Greek Revival and Italianate features. It has a side-hall plan and a gabled facade with a Doric porch, over-sized first-storey windows, corner pilasters and an arched gable window. Around 1870 the porch was extended around the west side, and paired brackets and cornice dentils were added, probably under later owner John F. Adams. Hobbs lived here until 1861, when he sold to another carpenter, Silas Batchellor. A later owner, Edward Hamilton, was a music teacher and founder of the Mozart Society in Worcester. The house sits in an area developed mostly by carpenters from the late 1840s to the mid-1870s. Highway and parking-lot construction have broken up that area, leaving few comparable buildings. The house is valued as an excellent example of mid-nineteenth century, middle-class housing and is in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as an excellent example of mid-nineteenth century, middle-class housing. It is also one of the few remaining buildings from an area developed mainly by carpenters between the late 1840s and mid-1870s, much of which was fragmented by highway and parking-lot construction.
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 80000582, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 16 William St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000582 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Marcus Hobbs (carpenter, builder and original owner); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and undergoing restoration, with the house remaining unaltered from about 1870; used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.26729, -71.80470 (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 80000582.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6758226
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.