National Register of Historic Places

House at 70-72 Main Street

Southbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Listed
June 21, 1989
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
89000581

About this property

The house at 70–72 Main Street in Southbridge, Massachusetts was built around the turn of the 20th century for George Wells, president of the American Optical Company, to provide housing for his workers. A gambrel-roofed three family house its gable end faces the street, and is adorned with porches, of which the one on the third floor has since been enclosed. The roof line is pierced by long dormers, giving the third floor unit more space than it might otherwise have. Ownership of the house was eventually transferred to the company, which continued to use the property for worker housing into the 1940s. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Location

70--72 Main St.
Southbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts
42.07336, -72.02824

Categories

INDUSTRYARCHITECTURE
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 House at 70-72 Main Street

This page lists House at 70-72 Main Street. 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 House at 70-72 Main Street report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

House at 64 Main Street
Industrial
0 mi
Maple Street Historic District
Listed
0 mi
House at 18 Walnut Street
Industrial
0 mi
Building at 52 Main Street
Industrial
0.1 mi
House at 59-63 Crystal Street
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was House at 70-72 Main Street listed on the National Register?

House at 70-72 Main Street was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 1989.

What type of historic resource is House at 70-72 Main Street?

House at 70-72 Main Street is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for House at 70-72 Main Street?

The period of significance for House at 70-72 Main Street is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near House at 70-72 Main Street?

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 House at 70-72 Main Street 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 House at 70-72 Main Street will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report