McPartland, James, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1888 at 17 Pond Street, this three-decker stands in a row of late 19th century three-deckers on Worcester's East Side, at the edge of downtown. It reflects the Green Street corridor, an established Irish, working-class neighborhood that was an early focus of three-decker construction. The house has a side-hall plan with a side-wall jog, a hip roof, and unusually ornate brackets in the cornice, along with a projecting three-story bay window and a three-tier porch that appears to be an early 20th century replacement. It is clad in clapboard and shingle. The earliest known owner was James McPartland, a cutter, and later owners included Catharine McPartland and Catharine Halpine. Tenants over the years included machinists, laborers, a fireman, a clerk and a boot and shoe maker. It is considered the best preserved three-decker in its area and an early, finely detailed example of the Queen Anne style.
Significance in brief: It is described as a rare surviving representative residence in the Green Street neighborhood, one of the original core areas of Worcester's East Side Irish community. It is also called the best preserved three-decker in the area and a very early Queen Anne example with fine details. It meets criteria A and C at the local level.
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 89002428, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 17 Pond St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002428 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne style Three-Decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition fair; some trim lost and two windows enclosed. Present use is residential. The porch was rebuilt in the early 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25730, -71.79711 (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 89002428.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6139550
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.