Shea, Bridget, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1888 at 21 Jefferson Street in Worcester, this wood-frame three-decker sits in the early core of an Irish residential district that grew on the northwest slope of Grafton Hill in the 1890s. It is clad in clapboard and cut shingle and has a hip roof with large decorative corner braces under the cornice. The side-hall plan includes an asymmetrical facade with a one-story projecting porch beside a three-story square bay window. The double-leaf entry door and stairwell windows hold stained glass lights. Only the porch balustrade and posts have been replaced. Bridget Shea is the earliest known owner, and the Shea family lived here until about 1920. Later residents included machinists, molders, laborers, a weaver and a clerk, reflecting the working-class character of the area. The house was listed for its link to early three-decker development on Grafton Hill and for its well-preserved, modest Queen Anne design, at the local level of significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is tied to the earliest three-decker development on Grafton Hill, a neighborhood whose residents were mostly of Irish descent. It is also an unusually well-preserved example of the modest Queen Anne three-deckers typical of this late 19th century hillside working-class 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 89002400, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 21 Jefferson St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002400 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne style Three-Decker |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as very good; present and original use is residential. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25384, -71.79477 (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 89002400.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4966753
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.