Newton, S.D., House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built around 1849 at 8 Sycamore Street in Worcester, this two and one-half storey frame house is a fine example of the Greek Revival style in its side-hall form. Clapboard covers the exterior. The facade has a pedimented gable, corner pilasters, a Doric porch and an entry with sidelights. Along the street frontage run a low granite wall and a wooden picket fence. The house was first occupied in 1849 by S.D. Newton, a painter, who stayed until about 1854. After that the property was occupied by Benjamin Lewis of Spurr & Lewis, victuallers, and by James Lewis, who worked in a local telegraph office. Sycamore Street and neighboring streets off south Main Street, including Charlton Street and Ionic Avenue, were built up extensively in the late 1840s with houses like this one, but little of that residential neighborhood survives. The house and its lot are exceptionally well maintained, offering a model of sympathetic care for houses of this period. It remains a residence, as originally intended.
Significance in brief: It is described as an excellent example of the popular Greek Revival side-hall house type, with a pedimented facade gable, corner pilasters and a Doric porch. It is also exceptionally well maintained, offering a model of sympathetic maintenance for houses of its period. It is one of few remaining houses from a neighborhood built up extensively in the late 1840s.
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 09000142, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 8 Sycamore St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 09000142 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence, the same as its original use; described as exceptionally well maintained and unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.26025, -71.80554 (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 09000142.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7387423
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.