Quinsigamond Branch Library
Why it's listed
Quinsigamond Branch Library, at 812 Millbury Street in Worcester, is a one-story brick building with dressed limestone trim, completed in 1913 in the Beaux Arts Classical style by Fuller & Delano Co. Its symmetrical facade is dominated by a projecting central pavilion with an Ionic entry, flanked by tri-partite windows in stone surrounds. A flat roof is hidden behind a brick parapet with limestone coping. The library was one of three Worcester branches funded by a $75,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie in 1912, built as the city grew away from downtown and the main library on Elm Street was hard to reach. The American Steel and Wire Company, which had shaped much of Quinsigamond Village, donated the land. Standing at the village center alongside other public buildings, it helps give the area the look of a small town center. It remains in its original condition and is still used as a branch library owned by the city.
Significance in brief: It is one of three branch libraries built in Worcester with a $75,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie in 1912. It was built on land donated by the American Steel and Wire Company, which had driven much of the village's development. It also anchors a cluster of public buildings that give the village a small-town center appearance.
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 80000494, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 812 Millbury St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000494 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Fuller & Delano Co. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts Classical |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Stated to be in original condition and still used as a branch library; the form marks it as not altered or moved. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.23216, -71.88094 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 80000494.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7272347
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.