Troupes, John, Three-Decker
Why it's listed
Built around 1918 at 25 Canton Street in Worcester, this three-decker is part of a row of similar houses facing Crompton Park, one of two working-class parks the city created on the East Side in 1886. It stands in the last section of the Island neighborhood to be developed. The wood-clapboard building has wide shingle bands between stories, a side-hall plan, a three-tier porch with Doric columns, a three-story round bay window, and a hip roof with decorative cornice brackets. The first known owner, John P. Troupes, ran a billiard hall. By the early 1920s the formerly Irish-dominated district was increasingly occupied by Polish and Lithuanian families, and the house was owned by a wireworker who lived there with tenants including a steamfitter, a cook and a baker. It was listed for its association with the neighborhood's working-class development and as a well-preserved Colonial Revival three-decker with no recorded alterations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for its link to the Island neighborhood's growth as a multi-family, working-class district during the influx of Polish and Lithuanian families in the early 20th century. It is also an unusually well-preserved, representative example of Colonial Revival three-decker construction.
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 89002394, listed February 9, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 25 Canton St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 9, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002394 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival 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 described as very good with no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.24887, -71.80280 (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 89002394.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6261307
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.