BROCKTON — For a "wax museum" school project, 9-year-old Zelly Perez studied hometown hero Rocky Marciano. She even played him in class, complete with an embroidered boxing robe her mom got on Amazon.

Her grandpa called Mark Casieri, the man who owns the champ's home, and arranged for Zelly to spend a recent Monday at 168 Dover St., soaking in a living shrine to the only heavyweight champ to retire undefeated.

"Brockton gets a bad rap," said Zelly's mom, Meaghan Perez. "But Rocky catches us when we fall."

Marciano lived with his five siblings and parents at the unassuming two-family house fronting James Edgar Park from 1943 to 1953, his brother Peter Marciano Sr. told investigators documenting why the home belongs on the National Register of Historic Places. That effort passed a significant milestone in January, when a state board recommended that the 1925 house deserves the honor.

If federal authorities agree, it would be not just because of Rocky's achievements, but because the house shows that an entire culture and neighborhood made him who he was.

"The whole Brockton community was involved in Rocky's success," said Plymouth County Register of Deeds John R. Buckley Jr. "And they lived it with him."

Here's how boxing scholar Carlo Rotella put in in an essay about 168 Dover St.'s historic and cultural resonance: "Few fighters have been as closely identified with their hometown, and Marciano was widely understood to enact local virtues on the international stage," wrote the Boston College professor.

"He was not big, quick, or slick, but he was canny, despite his apparent crudeness, and he outworked, outpunched, and outlasted everybody he fought."

Rotella recounts Rocky's famous work ethic: How he'd shovel out the backyard in winter to work a homemade heavy bag or throw punches underwater at the Brockton YMCA "to build power without becoming musclebound." Casieri still has a heavy bag hanging from that tree, albeit not on the original limb Rocky used. For future historical echoes, Casieri keeps a shallow pit dug out next to the bag, just as Rocky did for footwork and leverage.

Buckley has helped organize the push to get 168 Dover St. on the national register. It took three tries to get state approval. From here, it usually takes about two years to earn a spot on the coveted list.

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You might think it's good luck or a miracle that the house hasn't been torn down or remodeled beyond recognition. But it's actually down to the tenacity and commitment of Casieri and dozens of others who have given their time, money and expertise to preserve the house across the decades.

"There was a couple of times that I could have gotten a good price for this house. But you know what? Money comes and goes. History is more important," Casieri said.

Casieri bought the place in 2001 for $80,000. He and his wife live upstairs. The first floor looks much as it did in the 1950s except for the Rocky memorabilia on the walls. Casieri delights in pointing out how old photos of Rocky and family show doors and even electric outlets right where they were when Rocky's mom fueled his workouts with heaping plates of pasta.

The first floor looks like a museum but it isn't one. Casieri wouldn't rule out it becoming a formal museum in the future. But he's focused on making sure the property is protected.

Casieri has made minimal changes. They include shoring up dips in the floorboards with joists installed by his friend Luis Amelio Lopez, who provided his carpentry labor for free. Spend any time with Casieri and you'll learn how people keep stepping forward to help. A highly incomplete list includes local engineer Scott Faria, who donated technical survey expertise; the late Charlie Tartaglia, who gave Casieri boxing memorabilia from his restaurant; and Bruce Benner, whose camera shop enlarged historical photos.

Even with a whole city and region behind the preservation effort, the clock is ticking for getting the property onto the national register.

"It's now or never or something like this gets lost," said Tim White, assistant register of deeds, in a recent interview on the home's front steps.

During the interview, a man kept jogging around the park, just as Rocky did 70 years ago. It's a well-worn route, and one Rocky used when he'd run home-cooked lunch over to his dad at the Stacey Adams Shoe Factory.

• 1925: Two-family colonial built at 168 Dover St. in Brockton
• June 15, 1943: Rocky's parents, Pierino and Lena Marchegiano, buy 168 Dover St.
• April 16, 1952: Rocky's 1952 boxing license application lists his address as 168 Dover St.
• Sept. 23, 1953: Rocky wins heavyweight boxing championship.
• April 10, 1975: Lena Marchegiano sells 168 Dover St. to Alice Pereira.
• June 23, 1982: Pereira sells house to Louis Marciano.
• Feb. 12, 1998: Louis Marciano sells house to Brockton Community Corp.
• June 16, 1998: Brockton Community Corp. sells house to Patricia Johnson.
• Feb. 28, 2001: Current owner Mark Casieri buys 168 Dover St.
• Jan. 6, 2024: Massachusetts Historical Commission recommends house for inclusion on National Register of Historic Places.

Sources: City of Brockton and Plymouth County property records, Massachusetts Historical Commission.

If you have memorabilia directly connected with 168 Dover St. (not general Rocky Marciano items), or want to help get the property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, owner Mark Casieri may be reached at 774-707-9008.

Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at [email protected] or connect on X at @HelmsNews.

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