Schofield, James, House
Why it's listed
This clapboard house at 3 Mount Pleasant Street in Worcester dates to about 1860 and is an early local example of Second Empire design. It has a square floor plan with a rear ell, a symmetrical facade, corner quoins, an original entry porch, a side-lighted entry, moulded window caps with dentils and a deep dentilled cornice. A low mansard roof with a concave curve rises above, with two dormers on the front. The house is unaltered and still serves as a residence. It is linked to James Scofield (1824-1871), a Connecticut native who spent time in California before moving to Worcester in 1865 as an insurance agent. He built a large insurance business, bought land along Main Street South, and promoted deep setbacks for new houses to create a grand avenue. He also took part in efforts to reorganize the Worcester Horse Railroad Company and helped found the Worcester Safe Deposit Company.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be an early example of Second Empire architecture, with a square plan, rear ell, symmetrical facade, quoins and a low concave mansard roof, and it remains unaltered. It is also tied to James Scofield, an insurance businessman who tried to shape the development of Main Street South in Worcester.
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 80000634, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3 Mt. Pleasant St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000634 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in residential use; the form states the house is unaltered and has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.25405, -71.81212 (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 80000634.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715627
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.