Built 1856 NRHP Reference # 80000590 Architectural style Italianate architecture | MPS Worcester MRA Opened 1856 Added to NRHP 5 March 1980 | |
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Location 40 Laurel St., Worcester, Massachusetts Similar Wachusett Reservoir, DCU Center, Green Hill Park, Salisbury Mansion and Store, Elm Park | ||
The Borden-Pond House is a historic house at 40 Laurel Street in Worcester, Massachusetts, at its junction with Edward Street. The three story stone house was built c.1856-59, and is an architecturally unusual example of Second Empire styling with a colorful ownership history. It was probably built by John Borden, a mason and its first resident, built was sold to Lucius Pond in 1861. Pond was a leading local industrialist, who helped invent the Ellsworth repeating rifle. Pond was director of a local bank when rumors of its insolvency led to his flight in 1875.
He was arrested in San Francisco, California, attempting to gain passage on a ship to Australia. Pond was convicted of forging bank notes, and spent seven years in prison. The house originally had a mansard roof, but this was squared off to a full third story. It is a rare survivor from a period when a number of stone villas were built in the area.
The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.