Lothrop, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Built about 1825, this two-story Federal style house sits at the corner of the Boston-Worcester Turnpike (Route 9) and Park Street. It has a square plan, clapboard siding, a hip roof with twin interior chimneys, and a center entry with sidelights, pilasters, and an elliptical fanlight. In 1931 the house was moved 50 to 100 feet south on its lot so Route 9 could be widened. Later additions include a remodelled former Queen Anne carriage house, a kitchen wing, and a dining room, now used for a restaurant. The house reflects the prosperity that followed the turnpike's opening in 1810, before the railroad of 1834 shifted the town center southward. Its first owner, Joseph Lothrop, and his brother-in-law Nathan Fisher opened Westborough's first retail store and later a thread factory that was the first in town to use steam power. The house remains one of the few buildings along the turnpike that show its wealth.
Significance in brief: The house is a fine example of Federal style architecture and represents the prosperity brought to Westborough by the opening of the Boston-Worcester Turnpike in 1810. Its original owner, Joseph Lothrop, and his brother-in-law Nathan Fisher opened the town's first retail store and later a steam-powered thread factory. It is one of few buildings left along the turnpike that show the wealth the road brought.
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 80001680, listed March 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Shrewsbury at 208 Turnpike Rd., Shrewsbury |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001680 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1825 |
| Architect / builder | Builders unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition; used as a restaurant with later additions including a dining room and kitchen wing. The house was moved back 50-100 feet in 1931 to allow Route 9 to be widened. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.28382, -71.62571 (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 80001680.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6285024
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.