Johnson, John and Edward, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1918 at 31 Louise Street in Worcester, this three-decker is a well-preserved local example of Colonial Revival multi-family housing. It has a side-hall plan, a gable roof with a pediment, and a full-length first-floor porch carried on unusually heavy Tuscan columns. At the entry bay the porch rises three tiers, with slimmer paired columns above. A three-story bay window flanks the entry, and wood clapboard is banded with shingles between the stories. The house stands on the southern slope of Vernon Hill, the city's largest concentration of twentieth-century three-deckers. Many residents worked at the nearby South Works and Quinsigamond Village Works steel mills, and Irish and Swedish working-class families settled here. The first known owners were John Johnson, a machinist, and Edward Johnson, a wireworker, who both lived in the house through 1930. Its intact design and its link to this neighborhood's development are the reasons for its recognition at the local level.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it reflects the growth of an ethnically mixed, working-class, multi-family neighborhood on Vernon Hill in the early 20th century. It is also described as an unusually well-preserved example of local Colonial Revival three-decker design, meeting 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 89002416, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 31 Louise St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002416 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival Three-Decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; condition is described as very good, with no major alterations and no outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.24193, -71.79570 (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 89002416.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6265373
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.