Tiffany-Leonard House
Why it's listed
Built around 1832 at 25 Elm Street in Southbridge, this brick temple-front house features a two-story quadristyle porch and a pedimented facade. Its reeded Doric columns are slim and its entablature and cornice lighter than typical Greek Revival work, reflecting lingering Federal influence. Brick was more common in Southbridge for Federal-period houses than for later ones. Bella Tiffany (1786-1851) had it built after retiring from the cotton commission business. He had been Samuel Slater's original partner in the first cotton mill in Webster, and in Southbridge he helped found the bank and served in the state Legislature. The Leonard family owned the house much longer; Manning Leonard held it in 1855 and his heirs still owned it in 1898. Leonard was a local businessman, mill owner and justice of the peace. Today the house is in excellent condition and is used as offices, with a modern rear wing added.
Significance in brief: The nomination ties the house to the developing mill economy through its builder, Bella Tiffany, an early partner of Samuel Slater, and later its owner Manning Leonard. It is also significant for its gable-front orientation, Greek Revival ornament, and use of brick. It is described as one of the most imposing 19th-century residences in Southbridge.
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 89000590, listed June 22, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 25 Elm St., Southbridge |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | June 22, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000590 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated excellent; currently used as offices (originally residential); a modern rear wing was added in the mid-to-late 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.07400, -72.03401 (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 89000590.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7801182
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.