John Riordan Three-Decker, historic house in Worcester, Massachusetts
The John Riordan Three-Decker is a historic building built around 1888 in Worcester, Massachusetts, designed to house three separate families, each with its own entrance. The structure displays Queen Anne style features including asymmetrical facades, varied rooflines, and decorative woodwork around windows and cornices.
The building was constructed around 1888 to meet the housing needs of working families during Worcester's industrial growth. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, recognizing its importance as a document of late 19th-century residential life and building practices.
The building was named after John Riordan, believed to be an early owner or builder connected to Worcester's working-class history. Residents often lived in different units of the same building across generations, creating a sense of continuity and family connection within the neighborhood.
The house sits in a neighborhood with tree-lined streets and rows of similar structures from the same era, making it easy to see the architecture in context. Take time to observe the craftsmanship and small details of the facade, which reflect building techniques of the late 1800s.
The building was deliberately designed with three separate entrances to allow three distinct households to live independently while sharing one structure. This practical arrangement reveals how late 1800s architects maximized housing in limited urban space.
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