Thom Block
Also known as: Flat Iron Building
Why it's listed
Standing at the junction of Main Street, Calley Square and Spruce Street in downtown Milford, this four-story granite commercial block was erected in 1891 by James Thom. Its trapezoidal lot gives it the nickname Flat Iron Building. The street facades are rock-faced, locally quarried granite laid in coursed and random ashlar, with storefronts divided by polychromatic piers alternating polished and rough granite, and a carved plaque reading THOM and 1891 above the recessed corner entrance. Granite quarrying was Milford's largest industry from the mid 19th century, and this is the town's only surviving granite commercial block, a visible reminder of the prosperity that built Main Street. Thom's project was struck by a fire just before completion, and the family defaulted on the mortgage and left for Maine in 1895. A hotel and a fraternal lodge later occupied the upper floors, while the ground-floor stores housed a variety of small businesses.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building recalls Milford's late 19th century industrial prosperity, built on granite quarrying. It is the town's only surviving granite commercial block. Its randomly coursed load-bearing granite walls are uncommon, and its polychromatic piers of polished and rock-faced granite are described as unique in the region.
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 83003435, listed June 23, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 83-89 Main St., Milford |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 23, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003435 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | James Thom |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior in very good condition and interior in poor shape; at the time of the form the only occupants were a small clothing store and an auto parts store on the first floor. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.14228, -71.51820 (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 83003435.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7786711
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.