national register
National Register of Historic Places for Northborough Massachusetts

The National Register is the nation’s official list of historical assets (buildings, districts, sites, structures and objects) important in American history, culture, architecture, or archaeology. The register is administered through the Massachusetts Historical Commission on behalf of the National Park Service.

Listing on the National Register affords a property a high level of recognition of its significance, and may make it eligible for preservation-related grant funds, investment tax credits, and/or preservation easements. In addition, under provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act, undertakings involving federal funds or approval must “take into account” their effects on such properties, usually resulting in avoidance of impacts or programs to mitigate adverse effects; and Chapter 254 of the General Laws of Massachusetts provides similar review for state funded or approved projects.

More information regarding the National Register can be found at:

The National Register: www.nps.gov/history/NR/
The Mass. Historical Comm.: www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcnat/natidx.htm

As part of the recent town historical inventory, the contractors reviewed each asset for potential inclusion into the National Historic Register. They identified 23 individual assets and 8 districts which should be considered for nomination to the national register. Table 1 below contains the recommended individual assets and Table 2 contains the recommended districts.

It is likely that there are additional assets which could be considered for nomination. The contractors did their best with the information they had, but a home owner may have additional information that could make their property a potential for the National Register. One example that comes to mind is the Wood-Blair homestead at 97 Main Street which has historical links to the revolutionary war and the invention of photography.

It should be noted that Northborough currently has several assets listed in the National Historic Register. They are:

  • The stone Boston Post Road mile marker on East Main Street (NBO.908 and NBO.916)
  • The Wachusett Aqueduct System (NBO.H and NBO.I)
  • Buildings, structures and agricultural lands located on the Westborough State Hospital property that resides within the Town of Northborough (NBO.J)
  • A fourth asset was the old Town Hall that burned down in the mid 1980’s
Table 1:

Individual Assets Identified for Potential National Historic Registration


Number Street Historic Name
40 Church Street Unitarian Church
23 Main Street Evangelical Congregational Church
28 Main Street Northborough National Bank
34 Main Street Gale Library
37-39 Main Street Cyrus Gale’s General Store
52 Main Street Baptist Church / Historical Society
191 Main Street Chet’s Diner
35 Whitney Street Bush / Howe House
27-29 Whitney Street Wilder Bush Mansion
62 Whitney Street The Rev. Peter Whitney House
167 Main Street “The Cliffs,” Daniel B. Wesson House
63 Main Street Northborough High School
333 Howard Street Vera Green House
200 Hudson Street Woodside Mills
10 School Street Center School / Grange
264 Church Street Old West School
192 Whitney Street Old North School #2
310 Whitney Street Old North School #3
Railroad Bridge Over Cold Harbor Brook near Hudson Street
Railroad Bridge Over the Assabet River near School Street
Mary Goodnow Burial Site Main Street
Old Howard Street Burial Ground Howard Street
Brigham Street Burial Ground Brigham Street

Table 2:

Districts Identified for Potential National Historic Registration


District Name Location
Meeting House Common Properties located around the Unitarian Church
Town Center - Boston Post Road Properties on Main Street from South St. to River St. Also including some properties on Blake, School and South Streets including Assabet Park
School Street – Summer Street Turn-of-the Century properties near the intersection of School & Summer Streets
Woodside The Woodside Mill and its affiliated Mill Houses
Chapinville Mill Houses, canal and out buildings associated with the Chapinville Mill
White Cliffs – Wesson Mansion The Mansion and associated buildings on Main and Maple Streets
Historic School Houses, Thematic District The Four old school houses remaining in Northborough
Historic Farms, Thematic District Historic farm properties scattered throughout Northborough


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