Johnson, Edwin, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1892 at 183 Austin Street, this wood-clapboard three-decker reflects the housing that filled Worcester's low-lying Piedmont area west of downtown in the late 19th century. It follows the side-hall plan with a side-wall jog and has a hip roof, a three-tier porch with lathe-turned posts, cut brackets and spindle friezes, and a three-story angled bay window. Simple bracketed window caps and roof cornice brackets add detail, and the building has seen no major alterations. Its earliest known owner was Edwin E. Johnson, a machinist who lived here for over a decade and by 1900 ran his own machine shop. Tenants over the years included salesmen, clerks, printers, telegraphers and shoeworkers. By the 1920s and 1930s the neighborhood had become a focus of Worcester's Armenian community. The house was recognized as a representative working-class multi-family residence and a well-preserved local example of Queen Anne three-decker design.
Significance in brief: It is argued to represent the multi-family housing built in the ethnic, working-class Piedmont neighborhood west of downtown Worcester in the late 19th century. It is also considered an unusually well-preserved and well-detailed local example of Queen Anne three-decker design. 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 89002389, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 183 Austin St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002389 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good, with no major alterations and no outbuildings; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.26133, -71.81632 (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 89002389.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5346567
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.