Petterson,Lars-James Reidy Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Located at 4 Harlow Street in Worcester, this three-decker was built around 1910 as one of about six houses developed in the Harlow Street area by Lars Petterson, a local contractor who owned more than a dozen houses in the Lincoln Street and Greendale neighborhoods. It has a side-hall plan, wood clapboard siding, shingled gables and a gambrel roof with double cross-gable dormers and modillion blocks under the cornice. A two-tier porch with square posts and open balustrades sits beside a shallow two-story bay window. The house is described as remarkably well preserved and has no recorded major alterations. It reflects the middle-class streetcar suburb that grew along the Lincoln Street axis in the early 1900s, where white-collar workers and skilled tradesmen rented in multi-family homes. Early tenants included salesmen, clerks and a foreman. By 1924 the house was owned and occupied by James Reidy, an electrician. It was recognized for its neighborhood role and its well-detailed Colonial Revival design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it represents the middle-class streetcar suburb that grew along the Lincoln Street axis in the early 20th century. It is also an unusually well-preserved and well-detailed example of the gambrel-roof Colonial Revival three-decker. It was built by local contractor Lars Petterson as one of about six houses he developed in the Harlow Street area.
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 89002376, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4 Harlow St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002376 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; developed by Lars Petterson, a local contractor |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival (Gambrel) 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; condition is described as very good, with no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.28352, -71.79245 (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 89002376.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6491691
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.