Hunt, David, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1900 at 26 Louise Street in Worcester, this three-decker reflects the growth of a working-class neighborhood on the southern slope of Vernon Hill, the city's most concentrated area of three-decker building. Many residents worked as wireworkers at the nearby South Works and Quinsigamond Village Works steel mills, and families of Irish and Swedish heritage settled here. David Hunt, a wireworker, was the first known owner and still owned and occupied the house in 1912. Tenants over the years included firemen, machinists, laborers and a brass foundry operator. Architecturally, the house follows the side-hall plan with a side-wall jog and has a hip roof with a wide cornice, paired brackets and larger corner brackets. A three-tier entry porch, probably rebuilt around 1925, sits beside a three-story curved bay. Clapboard siding, shingle bands between floors, and 2/1 windows with rope-molded caps complete the well-preserved Queen Anne detailing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is tied to the early development of a multi-family, working-class, ethnic neighborhood on Vernon Hill's southern slope. It is also an unusually well-preserved and well-detailed local example of Queen Anne three-decker design. It is considered 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 89002412, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 26 Louise St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002412 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne Three-Decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded in good condition, with residential use both originally and at present; the porch was probably rebuilt around 1925. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.24121, -71.79555 (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 89002412.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5235261
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.