Shumway Block
Why it's listed
Three storeys of red brick make up this commercial block at 112-116 Main Street in Webster, at the west end of the central business district near the former railroad depot. It was built in 1886-1887 right after fire destroyed the Merchants' Block, a wooden building that had occupied the site since about 1840 and was bought by local businessman Oscar Shumway in 1872. The new building has a symmetrical three-bay facade of pressed brick divided by projecting piers, with sandstone banding, terracotta tiles and terracotta date plaques beneath a parapet with ball-topped posts. Its style blends Victorian Gothic and Queen Anne features. Storefronts at street level and offices upstairs follow the original arrangement, though the display windows were re-glazed in the mid-twentieth century and a few side windows were blocked. It was listed because it is one of the few surviving buildings that show the late nineteenth-century commercial character of Railroad Square.
Significance in brief: The block is a representative example of the late nineteenth-century brick commercial blocks of transitional Victorian Gothic/Queen Anne design along Main Street. It retains integrity of location, design, materials and setting. It is one of the few remaining blocks reflecting the commercial character of Railroad Square.
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 80000468, listed December 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 112-116 Main St., Webster |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | December 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000468 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1886-1887) |
| Architectural style | Transitional Victorian Gothic/Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; in good condition and used commercially, with storefronts at street level and offices above. Storefront glazing was replaced and some side and rear windows were blocked. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.04881, -71.88483 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 80000468.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7504999
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.