Mark, John, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1888 at 24 Sigel Street, this brick three-decker sits in Worcester's Island neighborhood, a low-lying area south of the central city. The area began as an Irish working-class district and by the early twentieth century was an important center for Polish and Lithuanian families who worked in nearby factories. The first owner, John Mark, was a mason, which may explain the unusual use of brick in a building type usually built of wood. It has a side-hall plan and hip roof, a double-leaf entry door under a hood with heavy decorated brackets, and a projecting single-story bay with recessed brick panels. Decorative brick bands mark the stories, windows are two-over-two sash in shallow arched surrounds, and the entry doors hold stained glass in geometric patterns. Tenants over the decades included machinists, brickmakers, laborers and springmakers. It was listed as a well-preserved local example of brick three-decker construction and of working-class multi-family housing.
Significance in brief: It is argued to represent the multi-family housing of the ethnic, working-class Island neighborhood, which grew as industry developed along nearby railroad corridors. It is also a well-preserved example of one of only a handful of brick three-deckers built in Worcester. The form finds it significant at the local level under criteria A and C.
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 89002435, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 24 Sigel St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002435 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate Three-Decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded as in good condition, in residential use, with no major alterations and no outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.25168, -71.80219 (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 89002435.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6246758
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.