Hodgson, William, Two-Family House
Why it's listed
Built between about 1855 and 1870, this one-and-a-half story Greek Revival cottage at 103-105 Sayles Street in Southbridge was designed to house two families. Its gables face the sides, and the five-bay facade has two entrances, each with a transom light, set within a single central doorframe. Paneled corner pilasters, gable returns, a frieze and a full Classical architrave at the eaves are typical of its date. The street grew in the mid-19th century under the influence of the Hamilton Woolen Company, whose introduction of delaines cloth manufacture in 1844 drew skilled English and Scottish worsted workers and other laborers to Globe Village. The company sold house lots on Sayles Street between 1849 and 1852, requiring buyers to build houses worth at least $1000. Occupants of the area included mill supervisors, foremen, skilled craftsmen, merchants and businessmen. The house survives as a well-preserved example of this worker housing and is one of only two relatively unaltered mid-19th century houses on the street.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as rare surviving housing from Southbridge's early mill development and for its link to the growth of Globe Village. It is an excellent, well-preserved mid-19th century multifamily house and one of only two relatively unaltered mid-19th century houses on Sayles Street. It meets criteria A and C 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 89000578, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 103--105 Sayles St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000578 |
| 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; the building is still used as a residence. Alterations include an early-20th century porch portico, and a barn and a non-contributing garage stand on the property. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.07745, -72.04352 (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 89000578.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8012383
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.