Webster Municipal Buildings Historic District
Also known as: Webster Plaza
Why it's listed
Webster's municipal district occupies a green block at the east end of the downtown commercial area, between Main Street shops and neighbouring houses. It holds Bartlett High School, built 1903-5 and enlarged around 1927-28, and the brick Town Hall of the same years, joined by a shared 1,638-seat auditorium. The Chester C. Corbin Public Library, built in 1920 with a bequest from Mrs. Corbin, adds Classical Revival details to Craftsman-style massing. A 1907 granite and bronze Soldiers' Monument, with statues by sculptor Finn Haakon Frolich, honors Civil War service. Two Civil War-era howitzers, a relocated granite horse trough and a later Veterans' Court of Honor complete the grounds. Together the buildings and monuments form a unified civic center that contrasts with the varied commercial architecture nearby. The grouping reflects the town's investment in education, government, learning and remembrance between 1903 and 1961.
Significance in brief: The district is a cohesive, park-like civic complex whose Classical Revival buildings contrast with the varied commercial architecture along Main Street. The school, town hall, library, monument and related objects record Webster's civic growth and its commemoration of war service between 1903 and 1961. The town hall and school share an auditorium, and the library was funded by a bequest.
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 12000152, listed March 27, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 350 Main, 29 Negus, & 2 Lake Sts., Webster |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 27, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000152 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1903-1961 |
| Architect / builder | Edward L. Tilton (library); J. N. White and Company (Soldiers' Monument design); Finn Haakon Frolich (monument sculptor) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th-Century Revivals/Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Buildings, structures and objects are described as in good condition; the current function list includes Town Hall, library and a vacant/not in use entry. |
| Acreage | 3.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.04932, -71.88032 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 12000152.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17034854
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.