National Register of Historic Places

Armsby Block

Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Listed
March 5, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80000598

About this property

The Armsby Block, also known as the Armsby Building, is an historic mixed-use residential and commercial building at 144-148 Main Street in Worcester, Massachusetts. Built in 1885 to a design by noted local architect Stephen Earle, it is a well-preserved example of Panel Brick architecture. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The Armsby Block is located on the west side of Main Street on the northern stretch of its downtown, adjacent to the former Elwood Adams Store. It is a five-story masonry structure, with a brick facade. The ground floor has two storefronts, which flank the recessed main building entrance. Brick piers separate each of these elements, and are topped by a frieze band and rusticated sandstone stringcourse. Upper level windows are set in rectangular openings with sandstone sills and lintels, and panels of brickwork between the second, third and fourth levels; a sandstone stringcourse separates the fourth and fifth floors. The building is crowned by a band of brick corbelling and a parapet with a central gable. The building was designed by Stephen Earle and built in 1885. It originally housed stores on the ground floor and a boarding house on the upper floors. It was built by the estate of George Armsby, who had been secretary of Worcester's Munroe Organ Reed Company. The principal alterations to the building over time were to the storefronts; these changes have largely been reversed. It currently contains offices for the Worcester County Sheriff and a restaurant at street level. National Register of Historic Places listings in northwestern Worcester, Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places listings in Worcester County, Massachusetts

Location

144-148 Main St.
Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts
42.26873, -71.80077

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Armsby Block

This page lists Armsby Block. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Armsby Block report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Adams, Elwood, Store
Industrial
0 mi
Raymond, Tilley, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Goulding, Henry, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Gilman Block
Industrial
0.1 mi
Thule-Plummer Buildings
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Armsby Block listed on the National Register?

Armsby Block was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Armsby Block?

Armsby Block is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Armsby Block?

The period of significance for Armsby Block is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Armsby Block?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Armsby Block will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Worcester County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Worcester County.

Explore WorcesterCounty ›

More historic places in Massachusetts

Browse all historic places in Massachusetts.

View Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Massachusetts history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Massachusettshistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Armsby Block will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report