Kinney, A., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1865 at 42 Edwards Street in Southbridge, this clapboard house follows a three-bay, side-entry, gable-front plan that was common in the mid-to-late 19th century. Its proportions, plan and silhouette reflect the Greek Revival, while arched pediment windows, bracketed cornices and square porch posts come from the Italianate style. The mix was frequent in Worcester County during the 1850s and 1860s, and this house is described as a well preserved example with massive form and well executed details. It belongs to a suburban estate district that developed between Hamilton and Marcy Streets from 1850 to 1880, where owners were generally successful businessmen of Center Village. A. Kinney owned the house in 1870, though nothing is known of his occupation. Charles Dean owned it in 1878, and by 1898 J. M. Cheney held it along with two nearby houses. A carriage house was converted to a garage in the early twentieth century.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its link to Southbridge's mid-19th century suburban real estate development. It is also notable for adapting the stylish Italianate to the familiar gable-front house form. It is described as a well preserved, excellent blend of Greek Revival and Italianate styles, 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 89000565, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 42 Edwards St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000565 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as good; still used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.07906, -72.03631 (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 89000565.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4648056
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.