Hubbardston Town Common Historic District
Also known as: First Parish Church of Hubbardstone--Unitarian; Old Burial Ground
Why it's listed
Hubbardston's town common is a 1.19-acre L-shaped remnant of land set out in 1773 for the community's first meetinghouse. It still holds the original church, the town's oldest burial ground, and a long grassed space dotted with monuments. The First Parish Church sits on a small rise at the head of the common. It may contain parts of the 1773 frame, but its present look comes from an 1842 Greek Revival rebuilding and an 1868-69 update that added a brick basement story. A four-stage steeple, rebuilt after the 1938 hurricane, crowns the clapboarded building. Along the west edge of the common stand the 1885 Soldier's Monument, a pair of bronze cannon placed in 1905, later granite war memorials, and a wooden guideboard seen in photographs from the 1890s. The common also reflects the town's religious history, including the 1827 division of the congregation. The church vestry now houses a day-care center.
Significance in brief: The common remains the site of the town's original church, its oldest burial ground, and a landscape of commemorative monuments. The First Parish Church, rebuilt in Greek Revival style in 1842 and updated in 1868-69, anchors the town center. The form also traces the town's religious history, including the 1827 split between Unitarian and Calvinist congregations.
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 00001396, listed November 22, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main and Brigham Sts., Hubbardston |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | November 22, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001396 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Social History, Politics/Government, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The church remains in religious use, and its vestry now serves as a day-care center. The common and cemetery remain in use. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.47503, -72.00577 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 00001396.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5926919
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.