McDermott, John B., Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1910 at 21 Freeland Street in Worcester's Main South neighborhood, this wood-clapboard three-decker was designed to appeal to professional and business families looking for rental housing in a fashionable district. It follows the typical side-hall plan but is larger than average. Its asymmetrical facade has a projecting two-tier porch with Tuscan columns, a three-story bay window, a shallow hip roof with small pedimented gables, and modillion blocks under the wide cornice. Elliptical and semi-circular lights decorate the gables. The first owner, John B. McDermott, a carpenter, lived in the house, and his family stayed through 1930. Early tenants included a bookkeeper, a store assistant manager, a manager and a high school teacher. The rest of Freeland Street was later developed with far more modest three-deckers. The house is valued for its remarkable preservation and for being one of the finest Colonial Revival three-deckers in the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an unusually stylish three-decker built to attract upper middle class families to multi-family housing in what was then an affluent neighborhood. It is also remarkably well preserved and ranks among the finest Colonial Revival three-deckers in Worcester. It is 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 89002366, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 21 Freeland St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002366 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival Three-Decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; condition is described as excellent with no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.24654, -71.82451 (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 89002366.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6220047
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.