Reed, Frank, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1888 at 913/915 Main Street in Worcester, this wood-frame three-decker sits beside Pilgrim Congregational Church on the edge of the Main South area's higher-status residential district. It has the side-hall plan with a side-wall jog, a hip roof, clapboard and shingle siding, and a recessed three-tier entry porch. A round, projecting three-tier tower with a conical cap flanks the porch, which has chamfered and turned posts and decorative brackets. The building has no recorded major alterations and is in excellent condition. Frank Reed owned it from 1888 to 1920. He was first listed as an electrician and machinist and by 1908 owned a drilling machinery company on Hammond Street. Early residents were mostly businessmen or white-collar workers. The house is recognized as a representative product of the late-1880s three-decker boom that accompanied industrial growth in the neighborhood, and as a notably intact and ornate Queen Anne example.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it represents the first three-decker construction boom in Main South in the late 1880s, when industrial growth brought new workers and their families. It is also an unusually well-preserved and ornate example of an early Queen Anne three-decker.
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 89002422, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 913/915 Main St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002422 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne Three-Decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition with no major alterations; present use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25190, -71.81893 (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 89002422.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5489174
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.