Larson, Swan, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1918 at 12 Summerhill Avenue in Worcester's Greendale neighborhood, this three-decker reflects the growth of a streetcar suburb filled with multi-family housing. Nearby factories, especially the Norton Company, employed many residents, and the area was a major center for the city's Swedish immigrant community. The first known owner was Swan Larson, a carpenter who lived at 6 Summerhill Avenue and owned four other houses nearby. Early tenants included Norton Company foremen, a bank teller, a carpenter, a fireman and a clerk. Architecturally, the house is an unusually well-preserved local example of Colonial Revival design, with a hip roof, side-hall plan, wood clapboard and shingle bands between stories. A projecting three-tier porch with a pedimented-gable portico, three-story bay windows, 6/1 and 4/1 sash and a bracketed cornice add detail. Its integrity and its link to Greendale's suburban development support its listing under criteria A and C at the local level.
Significance in brief: It is tied to the early 20th century development of Greendale as a streetcar suburb for families working at the Norton Company and other nearby factories. It is also an unusually well-preserved and well-detailed example of Colonial Revival three-decker design. The area was a focus for Worcester's Swedish immigrant community.
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 89002443, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 12 Summerhill Ave., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002443 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Possibly Swan Larson |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| 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 excellent; present use is residential. The first-floor porch was enclosed in the mid-20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.30571, -71.79853 (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 89002443.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7653476
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.