West Main Street Historic District (Boundary Increase II)
Why it's listed
This residential neighborhood in Westborough, Massachusetts, lies roughly between Charles, Forbes, South and Cross Streets and extends the West Main Street Historic District. It contains about 160 principal buildings, mostly single-family houses, along with Midland Cemetery (1810) and Pine Grove Cemetery (1844). The housing shows a wide range of styles. Two Colonial houses date from the 1790s, and several Federal examples follow. Greek Revival and Italianate homes are the most common, with Second Empire, Victorian Gothic, Stick Style, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival houses also present. Most were built in the second half of the 19th century, and construction largely stopped around 1930. The area is significant for its role in Westborough Center's shift from a farming village to the town's commercial, industrial and civic focus. One building at 12 Cross Street served as a boot and shoe factory from 1840 to 1860. The nomination also notes strong potential for Native American and historic archaeological finds, especially near Cedar Swamp.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the area is significant for its link to Westborough Center's growth from a rural agrarian village into the town's commercial, industrial, civic and institutional focus. It also holds an intact collection of buildings showing a full range of architectural styles from the 18th to early 20th century. The area has archaeological potential for both Native American and historic sites.
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 05001516, listed January 11, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by Charles, Forbes, South and Cross Sts., Westborough |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | January 11, 2006 |
| Reference number | 05001516 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1700-1955 |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Italianate, Late Victorian, Queen Anne, Stick Style, Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | All principal buildings in the extension area are currently residences, and there are two historic cemeteries; all but one of the dwellings are contributing. |
| Acreage | 60 |
| Coordinates | 42.26541, -71.61340 (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 05001516.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17035788
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.