Waters, Asa, Mansion
Why it's listed
Built between 1826 and 1829 at the corner of Elm and School Streets in Millbury, this three-story Federal style mansion was home to Asa Waters II, an arms manufacturer who held patents for gun making, held US government musket contracts, founded the Millbury Bank, served in the General Court and gave land for an Academy. The square, symmetrical house has clapboard siding, a hip roof with a balustrade, paired Corinthian pilasters and an eight-column, two-story portico on the east side. Materials included pine from the South and Maine, Central American mahogany, Italian marble and Baltimore brick, with all carving done by hand. Guests reportedly included Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, President Taft and Alexander Graham Bell. The town bought the property in 1976 and began restoring it for offices, meeting rooms, a library and a town museum. A garage and stone cistern also stand on the grounds.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest Federal style house in Millbury, built with high-quality materials brought by wagon. It is also tied to Asa Waters II, a prominent arms manufacturer, legislator and philanthropist. Notable guests were entertained there.
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 78000479, listed February 14, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 123 Elm St., Millbury |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | February 14, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000479 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1826-1829 |
| Architect / builder | Capt. Louis Bigelow, builder; Mr. Bryant, Boston Architect |
| Architectural style | Federal style with Georgian Revival details |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Military, Politics/Government, Architecture, Invention |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Town of Millbury, purchased in 1976, and undergoing restoration for use as town offices, meeting rooms, a library and a museum on the third floor. The exterior is described as unaltered; interior altered. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.19024, -71.76230 (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 78000479.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4803173
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.