Murphy, Patrick, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1900 at 31 Jefferson Street in Worcester, this three-decker belongs to the early core of an Irish residential neighborhood on the northwest slope of Grafton Hill. By the early twentieth century, many Irish families were leaving older inner-city districts for newer, more stylish houses on the East Side hill slopes. The first known owner, Patrick B. Murphy, was a laborer who lived in the building, and later directories list tenants with trades such as dentist, teacher, fireman and mattress maker. The house uses a side-hall plan with a side-wall jog, wood clapboard with a band of cut shingle, a gable-on-hip roof with decorative brackets, and a three-story angled bay. A wraparound porch has turned posts, jigsawn brackets and a spindle balustrade. It is listed for its link to early three-decker development on Grafton Hill and for its exceptionally well-preserved Queen Anne detailing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is associated with the earliest focus of three-decker development on Grafton Hill, a neighborhood settled mainly by families of Irish descent. It is also described as an unusually well-preserved and richly detailed local example of a Queen Anne three-decker. 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 89002404, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 31 Jefferson St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002404 |
| 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) | Present use is residential, the same as the original use. Condition is described as very good, with no major alterations recorded. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25379, -71.79332 (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 89002404.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715806
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.