O'Connor, James, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1906, this three-decker at 23 Endicott Street in Worcester belongs to a row of similar houses facing Crompton Park in the Island neighborhood, a working-class area south of downtown. Its first owner, James O'Connor, was a gasfitter who lived in the building, and early tenants included blacksmiths, woodworkers and a machinist. Many residents were Irish and Swedish, later joined by Polish and Lithuanian families, and worked in nearby factories close to the railroad junction. The house is a late example of the Queen Anne three-decker, with a side-hall plan, hip roof, clapboard siding and wide bands of wood shingle wrapping the front bay. An ornate three-tier porch has lathe-turned posts, cut brackets and spindle friezes, and bracketed window caps and cornice brackets add detail. It was listed for its link to the neighborhood's development and for its well-preserved design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is tied to the ethnic, working-class, multi-family Island neighborhood, especially the three-decker district around Crompton Park. It is also an unusually well-preserved and finely detailed example of the last Queen Anne three-deckers built in the city.
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 89002419, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 23 Endicott St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002419 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recorded as in fair condition, with no major alterations and still in residential use. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25102, -71.80350 (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 89002419.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6140471
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.