John and Edward Johnson Three-Decker facts for kids
The John and Edward Johnson Three-Decker is a special old house in Worcester, Massachusetts. It's called a "three-decker" because it has three floors, like three apartments stacked on top of each other. This house was built around 1918. It's a great example of a building style called Colonial Revival, which means it looks like older American homes. Because it's so unique and well-kept, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Quick facts for kids |
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John and Edward Johnson Three-Decker
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 31 Louise St., Worcester, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1918 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| MPS | Worcester Three-Deckers TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 89002416 |
| Added to NRHP | February 9, 1990 |
Contents
What is a Three-Decker House?
A three-decker house is a type of building with three separate apartments, one on each floor. They were very popular in cities like Worcester, Massachusetts, especially in the early 1900s. These houses helped many families find a place to live, especially new immigrants.
About the John and Edward Johnson House
This house is located in a part of Worcester called Vernon Hill. It's a three-story building made of wood. The roof has a pointed shape, called a gable. The outside walls are covered with a mix of wooden shingles and flat boards called clapboards.
Cool Features of the House
The front of the house has some interesting parts:
- On the right side, there are porches stacked up, one for each floor.
- On the left side, there's a cool rounded window area.
- Unlike many other three-deckers, the porch on the first floor wraps around to the side of the house.
- The upper porches have thin, round columns that support them.
- The left side of the house also has a window area that sticks out, going up all three floors.
- The front roof has a fancy triangular shape, and there are small decorations under the roof edges.
Who Lived Here?
The John and Edward Johnson Three-Decker was built around 1918. At that time, many three-decker houses were being built in this area. Lots of the first people who lived in these homes were immigrants. They often worked in nearby factories that made steel or wire.
The first owners of this house were John and Edward Johnson. They were probably immigrants from Sweden. John worked as a machinist, which means he operated machines. Edward worked with wire. Later, other families from Ireland and Sweden also lived in the house.
