McKinstry, William, Jr., House
Also known as: Monitor Roof House
Why it's listed
Standing at 915 West Main Street in Southbridge, this two-story, five-bay brick house dates to about 1815 and combines a fanlighted entrance with a monitor roof, a feature more often seen on mill buildings. Its origins are unclear, but it appears in an 1822 painting of Globe Village by Francis Alexander and seems to have been built as a residence. By the mid-19th century it was apparently housing workers from the Hamilton Woolen Mill across the street, and maps from 1855 show the mill company as owner. William McKinstry, Jr., a tailor and son of an early Southbridge settler, was recorded as living here in 1836. The monitor roof may have inspired the similar roof on the mill's later Girls' Boarding House, since it added living space cheaply. Porches were added in the 1890s and early 20th century. The house is valued as rare surviving housing from the early mill development of Globe Village and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is rare surviving housing tied to Southbridge's early mill development at Globe Village, meeting criteria A and C at the local level. Its monitor roof is unusual on a residence, and it later housed workers from the Hamilton Woolen Mill. The form says it may have influenced the monitor-roofed Girls' Boarding House.
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 89000528, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 915 W. Main St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000528 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; condition is described as good-fair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.09133, -72.04115 (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 89000528.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8015471
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.