Smith, Ellen M., Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1908 at 22 Kilby Street in Worcester's University Park neighborhood, this three-decker is a well-preserved example of Queen Anne style multifamily housing. It has a side-hall plan, clapboard siding, a hip roof with a small gable dormer, and an asymmetrical facade with a recessed three-tier porch beside a projecting three-story bay window. Turned posts, brackets, spindle balustrades and a bracketed cornice supply the detail. It was among the last Queen Anne three-deckers built in the area and anchors a corridor of similar buildings along Beacon Street. The house belongs to a cluster erected to house families of workers in industries along the Boston and Albany Railroad corridor. Its earliest known owner, Ellen M. Smith, held four neighboring three-deckers, and later owners included the proprietors of a bottle company and a realtor. Tenants over the decades were machinists, weavers, a fireman and other workers. It was listed for its local significance in architecture and community development.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be a representative example of early 20th century three-decker construction in University Park, built when factory workers, many of them immigrants, were drawn to the area's industries. It is also described as one of the best-preserved and well-detailed Queen Anne style three-deckers in the neighborhood.
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 89002409, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 22 Kilby St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002409 |
| 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) | Present use is residential; condition is listed as excellent with no major alterations and no outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.25072, -71.81573 (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 89002409.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5364922
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.