Raymond, Tilley, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1847 at 12 George Street in Worcester, this clapboard house was the home of Tilley Raymond, a carpenter turned builder. It is a two-and-one-half-story Greek Revival dwelling with a side-hall plan, set on a rock-faced granite foundation. The three-bay facade has corner pilasters and a pedimented gable, and a Doric porch runs across the first story. The paired entry doors are replacements from about 1875, while most of the 6/6 sash is original. Raymond, born in 1812 in Royalston, came to Worcester in 1834 and later partnered with Horatio Tower. Tower & Raymond were among the city's most active builders of the 1840s and 1850s, and their work included the Old Central Church and Mechanics' Hall. After Raymond's death, his son Edward, a Civil War veteran who became Chief of Police and clerk of the Central District Court, lived here. Henry E. Whitcomb bought the house in 1898 and converted it to apartments.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as an excellent example of the once popular side-hall type of Greek Revival house. It is also tied to Tilley Raymond, a partner in Tower & Raymond, one of Worcester's most active building firms of the 1840s and 1850s. Themes checked are architecture and community development.
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 80000568, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 12 George St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000568 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; converted to apartments in 1898 and used as apartments to the present. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.26835, -71.80160 (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 80000568.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7802824
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.