Paine, Timothy, House
Also known as: Oaks, The
Why it's listed
Built between 1774 and 1778 on Lincoln Street near the center of Worcester, The Oaks is a two-and-one-half-story clapboard house set back about one hundred feet from the road. It was begun by Judge Timothy Paine, a Tory whose unpopular political leanings drew local hostility and slowed construction. Paine later accepted a commission as Mandamus Councillor, and a crowd of about 3,000 marched to his house and forced him to read his resignation on the Worcester green. His son Dr. William Paine and grandson Frederick William Paine later lived there, and Frederick's garden was known for fruits and flowers. The original entrance on the south side was later moved to the east, where a porch with Doric columns was added, and a kitchen ell was built in 1836. The house is one of the oldest surviving structures in Worcester. The Daughters of the American Revolution bought it in 1914 and use it as a chapter headquarters and museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its association with Judge Timothy Paine, a Tory, and with the well-known descendants of the Paine family. It is also noted as one of the oldest surviving structures in Worcester, and reviewers saw possible local architectural interest in its changing styles.
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 76000948, listed April 30, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 140 Lincoln St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | April 30, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000948 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied, in good condition, and altered; used as a museum and headquarters of a Daughters of the American Revolution chapter, which has owned it since 1914. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.27816, -71.79452 (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 76000948.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7807448
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.