The St. Francis Rectory, built in 1903, exemplifies Second Empire architecture, a style distinguished by its mansard roof, which allows for a full upper story of usable space. The rectory’s symmetrical design is enhanced by elegant tripartite windows, pedimented dormers, and a spacious veranda, showcasing early 20th-century architectural prominence. These features firmly establish the rectory as an integral part of Naugatuck’s historical and architectural identity.

St. Francis of Assisi Church, a Gothic Revival masterpiece designed by James Murphy, has been a landmark in Naugatuck since its completion in 1890. While the basement chapel was dedicated in 1883, the grand church structure, with its cruciform shape, buttressed clerestory, and contrasting slate gabled roof, was dedicated on November 30, 1890. The tower, crowned by an octagonal spire adorned with crockets, emphasizes the church’s verticality, while the interior features clustered columns with ornate capitals and groin-vaulted ceilings that exude structural elegance and grandeur. The church remains a vital symbol of Naugatuck’s late 19th-century architectural and cultural heritage.

The 1892 St. Francis School, also designed by James Murphy, is a three-story brick structure combining Neo-Classical and Colonial Revival architectural styles. Key elements include granite lintels, intricate brick corbeling, and a central entrance pavilion topped with a striking octagonal domed lantern. Serving the Naugatuck community for over a century, the school closed in 2018 due to declining enrollment and financial challenges.

Each was designated as part of the Naugatuck Center Historic District on July 30, 1999.