LaRochelle, Napoleon, Two-Family House
Why it's listed
Built around 1890 at 30 Pine Street in Southbridge, this two-and-a-half story house was a rental property owned by Napoleon Larochelle, a polisher at American Optical Company who lived next door in a very similar house. Pine Street developed slowly after Notre Dame Church was built there in 1870, and by 1898 nearly all its homeowners had French surnames, suggesting French Canadians drawn to the parish shaped the street. The house reflects that late-19th century growth. Its gable-front plan with cross gable and side-hall entrance was common in the town, and it carries cross bracing and bargeboard ornament in the facade gable plus a Stick style porch with basketweave railing. It is considered an unusually well preserved example of its type, keeping its original trim, sash and double-leafed front doors. Its only noted alteration is two south-side windows clapboarded over in the early 20th century. The house is clad in clapboards and remains in residential use.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its link to Southbridge's late-19th century real estate development, much of it by French Canadians drawn to the nearby Notre Dame parish. It also adapts the familiar gable-front form to the Queen Anne style. It is an unusually well preserved example, retaining its original trim, sash and double-leafed front doors.
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 89000567, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 30 Pine St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000567 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is stated as good; present use is residential. Two south-side windows were clapboarded over in the early 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.08102, -72.04952 (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 89000567.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6965042
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.