Nomination for Thule--Plummer Buildings

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 February 22, 2011 Notice to file: This propertyhas been automatically listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This is due to the fact that the publication of our Federal Register Notice: "National Register of Historic Places: Pending Nominations and Other Actions" was delayed beyond our control to the point where the mandated 15 day public comment period ended after our required 45 day time frame to act on the nomination. If the 45* day falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the property will be automatically listed the next business day. The nomination is technically adequate and meets the National Register criteria for evaluation, and thus, automatically listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Edson Beall Historian National Register of Historic Places Phone: 202-354-2255 E-mail: Edson_Beall@nps.gov Web: www.nps.gov/history/nr NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) REECEIVED 2800 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service 019 National Register of Historic Places JANAN 30 3 2011 Registration Form NAP:ATEE WOFORICRLACES This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in National Registér Bulletin, How to Complete the National Register of HistoricPlaces Registration Form.If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions.

Place additional certification comments, entries, and narrative items on continuation sheets if needed (NPS Form 10-900a). 1. Name of Property historic name other names/site number N/A Thule-Plummer Buildings 2. Location street & number 180 and 184 Main Street N/A N/A not for publication city or town Worcester vicinity state MA code MA county Worcester code 027 zip code 01608 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this nomination request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register Criteria.

I recommend that this property be considered significant at the following level(s) of significance: -national - statewide _local Brona Suon December 23, 2010 Signature of certifying official/Title Brona Simon, SHPO, MA Historical Commission State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government In my opinion, the property _ meets _ does not meet the National Register criteria. Signature of commenting official Date Title State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government 4. National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that this property is: V entered in the National Register _determined eligible for the National Register -determined not eligible for the National Register other (explain:) Esan I.

Ball _removed from the National Register 2-18-11 Date of Action 1 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Thule-Plummer Buildings Name of Property 5. Classification Ownership of Property (Check as many boxes as apply.) (Expires 5/31/2012) Worcester, MA County and State X Category of Property (Check only one box.) X private public - Local public - State public - Federal building(s) district site structure object Number of Resources within Property (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing Noncontributing 2 2 buildings sites structures objects Total Name of related multiple property listing (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing) N/A 6.

Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions.) SOCIAL/meeting hall COMMERCIAL/TRADE/specialty store/warehouse DOMESTIC/multiple dwelling Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register 0 Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions.) COMMERCIAL/TRADE/specialty store/business EDUCATION/library 7. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions.) LATE AND CENTURY REVIVALS/Classical Revival LATE VICTORIAN/Queen Anne Materials (Enter categories from instructions.) foundation: BRICK walls: BRICK roof: other: SYNTHETICS/rubber United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No.

1024-0018 Thule-Plummer Buildings Name of Property (Expires 5/31/2012) Worcester, MA County and State Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current physical appearance of the property. Explain contributing and noncontributing resources if necessary. Begin with a summary paragraph that briefly describes the general characteristics of the property, such as its location, setting, size, and significant features.) Summary Paragraph The Thule-Plummer buildings are located toward the north end of Main Street in downtown Worcester, MA. Main Street has always been the commercial focus in downtown Worcester and many fine architectural examples still line the street, particularly along the stretch between Exchange Street and Madison Street (just south of the Thule-Plummer buildings), where there are twelve individual National Register properties and a small district of eight buildings.

While there has been a greater degree of demolition along Main Street north of Exchange Street and a number of lots remain vacant today, ten historic commercial buildings remain, three of which are listed individually in the National Register. Recent commercial development (since 1975) has resulted in the construction of three, large, modern commercial buildings on the east side of Main Street, opposite the Thule and Plummer Buildings. The commercial district terminates at Lincoln Square, where there exists a National Register district (Worcester Institutional District) of eleven institutional and municipal buildings, including the impressive Worcester County Court buildings. West of the Thule-Plummer buildings is a large residential neighborhood dominated by single- and multi-family houses from the second half of the 19th century.

The two parcels that make up the Thule-Plummer buildings together contain 12,974 square feet of land, with 55 feet fronting on Main Street. The Thule Building occupies the corner lot, while the Plummer Building is set back from Main Street (roughly 90 feet) and George Street (roughly 55 feet). The Plummer Building abuts the northwest corner of the Thule Building but there is no longer access between the two structures. Land along Main Street in the vicinity of the two buildings is relatively flat, but slopes sharply upward just to the west, along the rear of the buildings. In fact, both structures are built into the hillside, reducing the number of floors at the rear elevations. A vacant lot abutting the north elevation of the Thule Building and the east elevation of the Plummer Building was formerly the location of a small brick apartment building (ca.

1870) that was removed in the mid 20# century. The lot just west of the Thule Building and south of the Plummer Building formerly held a 2½ story, wood-frame residence (ca. 1880) which was also demolished. These two vacated lots abutting the Thule and Plummer Buildings are independent city parcels, now used for parking. Despite the loss of several neighboring buildings, the Thule and Plummer Buildings remain important landmarks at this prominent intersection and serve to document the institutional, commercial, and residential history of northern Main Street. Narrative Description Thule Building The Thule Building is rectangular in plan and occupies nearly all of its 6,383 square-foot lot. The five-story building is freestanding except where the northwest corner overlaps the Plummer Building by one bay.

The façade and south elevations abut the public sidewalks, while the north elevation faces a paved parking area, and the rear (west) elevation borders a vacant lot. Constructed in 1905, the Thule Building (Photo 1) has a red-brick exterior with limestone trim in the form of belt courses, column capitals and bases, a name plaque, and window sills. The belt courses are accentuated by brick dentils. Buff-colored bricks are used in decorative panels with geometric detailing at the façade and in the first two bays of the side elevations. The building is topped by a flat, rubber-membrane roof, and the roofline is defined by an overhanging metal cornice with dentils at the façade and south side elevation. The main entrance is centered at the first floor of the façade and is flanked by recent aluminum storefronts (installed as part of a Certified Rehabilitation project completed in 2009).

The recessed entry is contemporary with the storefronts, which terminate at two original rusticated brick columns at either end of the first floor. When the building was first constructed, there was a third brick column at the center, dividing the first floor into two separate storefronts, one for each 3 United States Department of the Interior NationalPark Service /National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Thule-Plummer Buildings Name of Property (Expires 5/31/2012) Worcester, MA County and State of the original retail spaces. The southern storefront originally had a central entry flanked by two display windows, while the northern commercial space had an entry and a single display window, alongside an entry to the function halls located at the upper floors.

In 1914, a major renovation was undertaken to convert the building from its original mixed retail/function hall use to commercial use only. As part of that project, the original storefronts were removed, along with the central column and entry to the upper floors. A single, deeply recessed central entry was installed, with two small storefront display windows flanking it. A remnant from the 1914 construction can be found today in the easternmost bay of the south elevation, where the storefront wrapped around from the façade. Fenestration at the second floor of the façade was also modified in 1914, when the existing large wood windows and surrounds were installed. The brick piers at the third floor originally extended down through the second floor to create four window openings. Second- and third- floor windows originally held paired 9/9 double-hung sash, topped by multi-pane transoms.

Windows at the third floor were replaced much later, and today hold aluminum sash from ca. 1980. Restored original wood sash remain at the two upper floors of the façade Fenestration at the side elevations consists of tall, rectangular window openings with recessed brick spandrel panels (second and third floors), arched openings with brick spandrel panels separating paired windows (fourth floor), and arched windows (fifth floor). A pedestrian handrail is attached on the building on the George Street elevation, due to the steepness of the slope (Photo 2). Windows at ground level are set in segmental-arched openings. Segmental arches are also used for windows at the rear elevation, which is otherwise void of architectural ornamentation (Photo 3).

Windows at the side and rear elevations currently hold recent aluminum double-hung sash, installed as part of the 2009 Certified Rehabilitation, that match the pane configuration of the originals. The south elevation features an entrance at its west end that holds the original paneled-wood double doors, set beneath a new aluminum multi-light transom in the configuration of the original. The north and rear (west) elevations each have a secondary entry with a recent flush metal door. When originally constructed, there were two retail spaces at the first floor and function halls at each of the upper floors. The hall at the fourth floor was a two-story space with a dome ceiling (an internal dome that did not project above the roof).

In 1914, when the building was converted to commercial use, the upper hall was divided into two floors, and partitions were removed from the lower levels to create open floor plans. The wall separating the two first-floor commercial spaces was removed to create a single commercial space. The upper floors were heavily modified throughout the years, with much of the historic trim at the perimeter walls being obscured by added walls and most of the internal partitions being removed. As part of the recent Certified Rehabilitation, the building was converted to use as commercial space (first floor) and a law library (upper floors). Previously added walls were removed to reveal the surviving historic window casings and baseboards. In addition, the historic front and rear staircases were restored and remain in use (Photos 9 & 10).

Due to structural and code issues, the dome at the fifth floor could not be retained. Plummer Building The Plummer Building was constructed as a small apartment building with first-floor commercial space. Today, it stands on a small lot of 6,591 square feet and occupies the entire parcel. The building was constructed in two phases that included the five-story main block from 1890, and a large rear (west) addition that was erected ca. 1930. The main block has a rectangular plan and is enclosed by a flat roof. It is constructed of brick, and trimmed with rusticated brownstone detailing in the form of window sills, beltcourses, coping, and voussoirs. The façade (east elevation) is the most highly ornamented elevation (Photo 4); the façade had previously been painted, but the paint was removed as part of a Certified Rehabilitation project that was completed in September 2010.

The building has two principal entries, one at either end of the façade. Presumably, one was originally used for the first-floor commercial space, while the other provided access to the apartment units at the upper floors. Both main entries are recessed within an arched opening, and hold a recent glazed aluminum door. A single window between the two entries is also set within a broad arch. A three-story bay window with paneled aprons rises above the south entry. The façade is further enhanced by a decorative beltcourse with brick dentils running above the fourth floor, and a stylized brick band beneath the parapet coping. The parapet features a name plaque that reads "PLUMMER," alongside a date plaque establishing the 1890 construction. Windows at the second and third floors have segmental-arched heads, while those at the two upper floors are flat.

All windows at the façade hold modern aluminum 1/1 double-hung sash (ca. 1980). The side elevations (north and south) of the main block are far less articulated than the façade (Photos 5-7). The plain brick walls have an asymmetrical window arrangement. Window openings at the 4 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Thule-Plummer Buildings Name of Property Worcester, MA County and State uppermost floor have flat heads, while all others have segmental arches. Window openings at the side elevations hold aluminum double-hung sash that were installed as part of the recent Certified Rehabilitation. The slope of the site is so extreme that the ca.

1930 rear addition has six exposed floors at the east end of the north elevation, while only two floors are visible at the west elevation. The rear addition is rectangular in plan (four bays wide and seven bays deep) and is enclosed by a flat rubber-membrane roof. It is a utilitarian brick structure, featuring asymmetrical window openings with segmental-arch heads and rusticated granite sills (Photos 6-8). Window openings of the rear addition hold aluminum double-hung sash that were installed as part of the recent Certified Rehabilitation. The interior retains little historic fabric from the original residential use of the main block. The lower two floors of the main block were the most heavily altered, having been used as retail space with contemporary finishes. All partitions were removed when the building was converted to warehouse use and the addition was constructed, around 1930.

The upper floors of the main block and all levels of the rear addition had open floor plans, exposed brick walls (in rear addition), and exposed framing up until last year, when the building was converted to office use. In 2009/2010, open spaces were subdivided and new finishes installed throughout (part of Certified Rehabilitation). Surviving original trim was retained in a number of locations, as were the historic stairs in the addition (Photos 11-12). Connector A small brick connector (part of the Plummer Building property) joins the Thule and Plummer Buildings at the second, third, fourth, and fifth floors only. It is located at the south end of the Plummer Building façade, and links to a stairwell in the northwest corner of the Thule Building.

This brick connector was constructed around 1930 and is only one bay wide and one deep (visible in Photo 4), with four window openings at its east face being the only fenestration. Window openings have cast-stone sills and flat heads, except at the top floor where the window has a segmental arch. The only other ornamentation is a corbelled brick cornice defining the roofline. The rear of the connector is a plain brick wall. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Thule-Plummer Buildings Name of Property (Expires 5/31/2012) Worcester, MA County and State Archaeological Description While no ancient Native American sites are known at the Thule-Plummer Buildings, sites may exist. One ancient site is recorded in the general area (within one mile).

Environmental characteristics of the property, especially their distance of over 1,000 feet from the nearest wetlands, do not represent favorable locational characteristics (slope, soil drainage, proximity to wetlands) for the presence of Native sites. Portions of the property are also excessively sloped, another unfavorable locational characteristic. The slope is such that the ca. 1930 rear addition has six exposed floors at the east end of the building and only three floors visible at the west elevation and much of the south elevation. Soil types are also classified as urban land where natural soil characteristics have been altered by buildings, shopping centers, roads, and parking lots.

Given the above information, and the fact that the Thule and Plummer Buildings both have basements and cover nearly the entire lot, a low potential exists for locating significant ancient Native American resources on the property. Construction of the Thule and Plummer Buildings and earlier historic land use would have destroyed any ancient resources located in the district. A low potential also exists for the recovery of significant historic archaeological resources. While land that includes the Thule and Plummer Buildings was included in a village, now known as Worcester, by 1715, specific sites from this period have yet to be identified. After ca. 1768, the Baldwin family built a house close to Main Street where the Thule Building now stands. No buildings are known to have been built on the Plummer lot as it exists today.

In spite of the information presented above, the potential for locating historic archaeological resources in the district is low. Construction of the Plummer Building (1890, 1930) and Thule Building (1905) would have destroyed any evidence of earlier buildings. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Thule-Plummer Buildings Name of Property 8. Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for National Register listing.) A B Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

(Expires 5/31/2012) Worcester, MA County and State Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions.) ARCHITECTURE COMMUNITY PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT Period of Significance 1890-1960 Significant Dates N/A Criteria Considerations (Mark "x" in all the boxes that apply.) Property is: A Owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes. B removed from its original location. C a birthplace or grave. D a cemetery. E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. F a commemorative property. G less than 50 years old or achieving significance within the past 50 years. Significant Person (Complete only if Criterion Bis marked above.) N/A Cultural Affiliation N/A Architect/Builder George H.

Clemence (Thule Building) Period of Significance (justification) The period of significance begins with the date of construction for the Plummer Building (1890), the earliest contributing resource in the district, and ends at the fifty-year cutoff for listing (1960). Criteria Considerations (explanation, if necessary) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Thule-Plummer Buildings Name of Property Worcester, MA County and State Statement of Significance Summary Paragraph (Provide a summary paragraph that includes level of significance and applicable criteria.) The Thule-Plummer Buildings possess integrity of design, location, setting, materials, feeling, and workmanship.

The buildings are of local significance and meet Criteria A & C for listing in the National Register. They are significant for their associations with the development of downtown Worcester as the principal commercial, municipal, and institutional hub for central Massachusetts, and with the evolution of northern Main Street into a small enclave of home furnishing/improvement businesses in the early 20th century. The buildings further attain significance for their association with the large Swedish community that resided in Worcester in the early 20th century. Narrative Statement of Significance (Provide at least one paragraph for each area of significance.) Historical Overview of Downtown Worcester Since the time of Worcester's first permanent settlement in 1713, Main Street has served as the principal commercial, institutional, and municipal focus for the community.

After two unsuccessful attempts at settlement in the area now known as Worcester, a village was finally inhabited on a permanent basis around 1715. The new village was established along Main Street between the Common and what is now Lincoln Square, encompassing the land now occupied by the Thule and Plummer Buildings. Development was initially strictly axial along Main Street, as lateral expansion was restricted by a steep hill to the west and wetlands to the east. There were no side streets until 1787, when Mechanic Street was laid out. After 1795 additional side streets were established so that by 1830, Central, Thomas, and School streets were also in existence. Central Massachusetts, initially part of Middlesex County, had become sufficiently populated by 1730 to justify its own county government and courthouse.

Worcester, being centrally located, was selected as the new county seat and a courthouse was established at Lincoln Square. Arrival of the court served to spur development in Worcester, so that by 1765 the town could boast 1,478 residents. Throughout the 18"* century, the focus of development continued to be along Main Street north of the Common, where the town hall, county registry, and First Parish Meetinghouse stood. By 1795, there were also several taverns, a schoolhouse, and additional county offices further north on Main Street. The Second Parish Meetinghouse was established near the north end of Main Street, adjacent to Lincoln Square, in 1792. By 1830, land along Main Street had been subdivided and the street was lined with dense development of freestanding buildings, primarily residential, prior to 1810.

During Worcester's first industrial boom (1829-1855), facilitated by advancements in transportation, development in all sectors increased (industrial, commercial, and residential). New housing construction was generally focused on the hillsides west of Main Street overlooking the town center. At the same time, the demand for commercial real estate along Main Street increased. Two- and three-story Federal-period commercial blocks were erected along Main Street in the early years of the 19th century, but were very quickly overshadowed by three- and four-story Greek Revival and Italianate buildings after about 1835 and into the 1850s. During this era of great prosperity the population of Worcester expanded dramatically, from 2,577 in 1810 to 22,284 in 1855, and Worcester was restructured as a city (1848).

In the mid 19"h century there were still a significant number of houses remaining along Main Street, although the more fashionable estates had been moved outside the downtown, and commercial blocks were built in their place. The rows of modest Greek Revival and Italianate commercial building erected on Main Street in the mid 19th century were replaced at the end of the century by larger Victorian and Queen Anne style blocks as the city prospered tremendously after the Civil War. A second industrial boom following the Civil War resulted in a sharp rise in population, to 41,105 in 1870, and a significant increase in real estate values. In the second half of the 19# century, increasing numbers of immigrant workers flocked to Worcester to work in the growing industrial sector.

Older residential areas east and south of the commercial district became more densely developed as working-class neighborhoods, while those areas north and west of the downtown tended to be more middle and upper class. 2 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Thule-Plummer Buildings Worcester, MA Name of Property County and State Steady expansion within the city continued until the end of WWI, at which time there were over 187,000 residents, many of whom were foreign born. After 1919, local commerce began to stagnate, as many of the city's manufacturers were consolidated and population figures declined.

In the first three decades of the 20* century, increasing numbers of specialty stores - which had flourished in the second half of the 19* century as advances in manufacturing allowed local merchants a greater diversity of goods - were consolidated, as department stores became more prevalent. The Great Depression resulted in even greater commercial losses and continued reduction in the number of residents, which persisted for some time. By the mid 20" century, the city had large numbers of vacant and aging buildings. Urban renewal in the 1960s resulted in the demolition of nearly all commercial buildings east of what is today Commercial Street. Vacant lots are also found in scattered locations along Main Street, particularly north of Sudbury Street.

Land Subdivision in the Area Although the Plummer and Thule Buildings sit on two separate lots today, the history of these parcels is very much intertwined. Land on which the buildings were constructed was formerly part of a tract of 44 acres assigned to Daniel Heywood by the original town proprietors in 1714. Heywood's tract included land on both sides of Main Street, and extended roughly from what is Walnut Street today northward to the former site of the Central Church (the lot directly north of the Plummer Building). It proved to be a valuable parcel, lying just a few blocks north of the Common and town hall, and just south of Lincoln Square, where several county government buildings would later be located. The 44-acre parcel was subdivided fairly quickly, as there was great demand for land in the village center.

A lot containing about one- half acre was sold to Nathan Baldwin, a saddler, in 1768. This lot included what is today the Thule Building lot, the adjacent parcel to its west, the eastern half of the current Plummer Building lot, what is now a vacant lot east of the Plummer Building, and much of the large lot north of the Plummer Building (later the site of a Calvinist church). The Baldwin family erected a house close to Main Street (where the Thule Building now stands). The Baldwin heirs sold the southern portion of their land (now the Thule Building lot and the small lot directly to its west) with the house to shoemaker William Eaton in 1794. The Eaton family set off a small house lot at the west end of their property ca.1875 (house no longer extant), leaving the lot that currently holds the Thule Building.

(See attached historic maps.) William Eaton also acquired land to the north (now the Plummer Building lot and the adjacent lot to the east fronting on Main Street). Eaton's daughter and sole heir, Sarah C. Eaton, conveyed the northern lot in 1866 to Maria Ann (Plummer) Barnard, wife of Dr. Franklin Barnard. The Barnards erected a 2½-story brick townhouse, where they lived through much of the 19th century. In 1890, the Barnard heirs (four daughters) built the Plummer Building on the rear of the lot. Meanwhile, Sarah Eaton sold the old Baldwin house to physician Rebecca Barnard (second daughter of Maria and Franklin Barnard), who lived and worked there into the early 20** century. Rebecca Barnard sold the property in 1903 to Charles F. Hanson, a prominent local Swede, and the Colonial house was demolished to make way for construction of the Thule Building.

The Plummer Building lot remained in the Barnard family until 1914 when it was sold to James and Charles McDermott. That same year the McDermott brothers purchased the Thule Building. Additional land to the rear (west) of the Plummer Building was acquired ca. 1925, so that the structure could be enlarged. The old Barnard townhouse at the front of the Plummer Building lot (east end) remained standing through the mid-20" century, until about 1970, when it was set off on a separate lot and then demolished to make way for the existing parking lot. This left the Plummer Building on the lot that it occupies today, facing a Main Street parking lot rather than the back of the Barnard townhouse.

Thule Building and the Swedish Community Charles Hanson purchased the land for the Thule Building in 1903, on behalf of a group known as the Thule Music Hall Association, whose intention was to erect a building on the site to house retail space and function halls. Little is known about the Thule Music Hall Association, but deed records refer to a group of five people (names not given) represented by Hanson, a well-known Worcester resident. It may very well be that the group was formed for the sole purpose of developing this particular real estate, given that they are not listed in any city directories as an active social/cultural organization, nor do they appear in any of the well-known local histories. Charles Hanson (1849-1921) is noted as having been the first Swede to settle in Worcester.

He went on to become the most influential Swedish-American resident in the city, which had the largest Swedish population in New England in the early 20th century. At the end of the 19" century, 3 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Thule-Plummer Buildings Worcester, MA Name of Property County and State economic, religious, and political unrest led thousands of Swedes to move to America. Manufacturers recruited Swedish workers, particularly for iron working and ceramic production - industries familiar to the Swedes. The number of Swedish residents grew to about 38,000 by 1930, roughly one-fifth of the city's total population. Hanson immigrated to America in 1865, settling in Boston where he worked in a piano factory.

He moved to Worcester in 1868, and was employed by S. R. Leland & Son, repairing and tuning pianos. Shortly thereafter, Hanson established his own business, dealing in pianos and other musical instruments, under the name C.F. Hanson & Company. Upon completion of the Thule Building, Hanson moved his store to one of the retail spaces there. Not only was Hanson a talented musician and conductor, but he did much to benefit the local Swedish community. He founded and supported various clubs and charitable organizations for Worcester's Swedish residents, and conducted concerts to raise money for the local Swedish Charitable Association and others like it. He established an evening school for Swedish youths. His opera, "Fridthjog and Ingeboag," was performed in 1900 for the benefit of the Swedish National Association.

The Thule Building was erected in 1905 and designed by Worcester architect George H. Clemence (ca. 1865- 1924). Clemence maintained an office in the Walker Building (405 Main Street) in downtown Worcester in the late 1890s and first two decades of the 20th century. Clemence is known for having designed a number of municipal and institutional buildings in the region, including the Brookfield Town Hall (1904) (NRDIS), Chatham Street YWCA (Worcester-1915), Waldo Street Police Station and District Court (Worcester-1918, NRIND/MRA), as well as several schools and firehouses in Worcester and nearby communities. The Thule Building boasted four function halls at the upper floors, the names of which (Vasa, Svea, Thule, and Continental) reflected the Swedish heritage of those who commissioned the structure.

Many of the local Swedish clubs and charitable organizations held their meetings at the Thule Building in the early 20th century. The southern retail space was occupied by Charles Hanson's music shop, while the northern space was leased to John Gustafson, who operated a plumbing business there. In order to finance the project, the Thule Music Hall Association received a mortgage from William H. Inman, a local steel distributor. The group was unable to pay the mortgage, and as a result, the property was sold at auction in 1914 to brothers James A. and Charles R. McDermott. James McDermott was a well-know general contractor in Worcester, who worked in partnership with his brother John B. McDermott (under the name McDermott Brothers). Their brother Charles was a local dentist, and likely was involved in the Thule Building purchase as an investor only.

Plummer Building and Residential Development on Main Street After about 1850, increasing numbers of apartment houses were constructed in the vicinity of Lincoln Square and in a neighborhood opposite City Hall and the Common, which lie further south on Main Street. The late 19th residents of these apartment buildings were largely middle-class tenants who worked locally. The Federal census of 1900 lists a variety of professions for residents of the Main Street apartment houses, such as secretary, clerk, nurse, bookkeeper, accountant, milliner, and wire mill worker. Most of the tenants were from New England, with much smaller numbers from New York and Pennsylvania. Only a small number of the recent immigrants took up residence in the downtown apartment blocks; those who did were typically from Ireland, Canada, or Armenia.

Supplementing the middle-class housing stock were many smaller single-family homes on the side streets, which continued to be owner-occupied, but greater numbers were taking in boarders. Southern and eastern sections of the city became built up with wood-frame triple-deckers, to provide still more housing for the middle class in the late 19"h and early 20* centuries. Upper- and upper-middle class housing of the same period was generally limited to the areas northeast and northwest of Lincoln Square. Expanded streetcar service in the early 20"h century allowed for further expansion of residential development into previously less- accessible sections of the city. The Plummer Building (constructed in 1890) is typical of the late 19th century apartment houses in the city, with its first floor retail space and apartment flats above.

The 1892 city atlas indicates that the first floor was used for "stove storage" very early on. The 1900 Federal census lists approximately one dozen tenants, employed as nurses, housekeepers, clerks, a bookkeeper, salesman, fireman, milliner, accountant, and buttonhole maker. All were from the New England states, with the exception of two Pennsylvania natives. By 1910, the first floor was occupied by a tin shop, and the upper floors continued to house a variety of middle-class workers. The only notable change in the population of the building was that there were larger numbers of residents from states outside of New England, including several from New York, and a few 4 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No.

1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Thule-Plummer Buildings Worcester, MA Name of Property County and State Swedish immigrants. The Plummer Building remained in the Barnard family until it was sold in 1914 to James and Charles McDermott, who purchased the Thule Building that same year. Use of the Thule & Plummer Buildings After 1914 Immediately upon acquiring the Thule Building, the McDermott Brothers commenced plans for a major renovation, abandoning the function halls on the upper floors and converting the entire building to commercial space for a single tenant. For most of the following 60 years the building was occupied by furniture companies, beginning with Stearns Furniture Company (there by 1916), then Summerfield's Furniture, which occupied the building from ca. 1920 until 1930.

In the first half of the 20# century, the two-block stretch of Main Street between Gertrude Avenue and Sudbury Street had become a small enclave of home furnishing/improvement businesses that included four paint stores, five furniture companies, and a wallpaper showroom. Summerfield's Furniture was followed by the Burwick Furniture Company, who leased the Thule Building in the early 1930s, and eventually purchased both the Thule and Plummer buildings in 1937 (under the name Burwick-Grace). The Burwick Furniture Company, who sold "furniture, rugs, refrigerators, ranges, washers, radios," remained at this location until about 1943, when both buildings were transferred to the Worcester County Institution for Savings and sold the following year to Mercantile Properties Corporation. By 1948, the building was occupied by Sawyer's furniture dealers.

Meanwhile, the Plummer Building, also purchased by the McDermotts in 1914, remained in use as apartment housing until at least 1916. City directories confirm that in 1916 the first floor of the Plummer Building was occupied by Prouty Brothers (tinsmiths) and Nelson & Ericson (paper hangings). At some point, around 1925 or 1930, the Thule Building and Plummer Building were physically joined by a small connector. The connector is one bay wide and one bay deep, and formerly joined the buildings through a single doorway at the landing of the rear staircase of the Thule Building (the doorways were blocked off as part of the recent Plummer Building renovation, so that there is no longer access between the two buildings).

At about the same time, a large addition was constructed at the rear of the Plummer Building and the apartments were removed; the interior space was given over to warehousing, presumably for Summerfield's Furniture, which had been occupying the adjoining Thule Building. In 1969, the Thule and Plummer Buildings were acquired by Palson's Inc., sellers of office furniture and supplies. The following year the Plummer Building was sold apart from the Thule Building. The Plummer has passed through three owners between 1983 and the present, and was occupied by a variety of commercial tenants until it was vacated in 2009. In 2009/2010 the building was renovated (Certified Rehabilitation) for office use and is currently occupied. Meanwhile, Palson's Inc.

retained the Thule Building and continued to operate their business there until 2006, by which time they had added a printing department to the business. After the building was sold in 2008 to 184 Main Street Associates, the rinting business was carried on by Alpha Graphics, who continues to occupy one of the two first-floor commercia paces. A major renovation (Certified Rehabilitation) was completed in 2009, and the upper floors now hold the Worcester Law Library. Developmental history/additional historic context information (if appropriate) 5 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Thule-Plummer Buildings Name of Property 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Bibliography (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form.) (Expires 5/31/2012) Worcester, MA County and State Atlas of the City of Worcester, Massachusetts. Springfield, MA: L.J. Richards & Company, 1896. Atlas of the City of Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. New York: F.W. Beers & Company, 1870. Crane, Ellery Bicknell. Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Worcester County, Massachusetts. New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1907.l Massachusetts Department of Public Safety - Architectural Plan Files Nutt, Charles. History of Worcester and its People. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1919. "The Baldwin-Eaton Estate." In Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, Volume XXI, 102-107. Worcester, MA: Worcester Society of Antiquity, 1907.

Richards Standard Atlas of the City of Worcester, Massachusetts. Springfield, MA: Richards Map Company, 1911. Salomonsson, Eric. Swedes of Greater Worcester (Portsmouth, NH: Arcadia Publishing, 2005) Sanborn Map Company. Insurance Maps of Worcester. New York: 1892, 1910, 1936, 1949. Worcester city directories (various years). Worcester County Registry of Deeds (various documents). United States Census - various years. Previous documentation on file (NPS): HPCA # 24,640 preliminary determination of individual listing (36 CFR 67 has been requested) previously listed in the National Register previously determined eligible by the National Register designated a National Historic Landmark recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey #.

recorded by Historic American Engineering Record # recorded by Historic American Landscape Survey # Primary location of additional data: X State Historic Preservation Office Other State agency Federal agency Local government University Other Name of repository: Historic Resources Survey Number (if assigned): MHC # WOR.708, WOR.709 10. Geographical Data Acreage of Property Less than one (Do not include previously listed resource acreage.) UTM References (Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet.) 1 19 269000 4683310 Zone Easting Northing 2 Zone Easting Northing - 3 Zone Easting 4 Zone -Easting Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the property.) Northing Northing The nominated district occupies two contiguous town lots shown on the Worcester Assessors Map M23, lots 02-028-0018B and 02- 028-00020 (see attached).

6 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 Thule-Plummer Buildings Name of Property (Expires 5/31/2012) Worcester, MA County and State Boundary Justification (Explain why the boundaries were selected.) All of the land included within the boundaries was historically associated with either the Thule Building or the Plummer Building. 11.

Form Prepared By name/title organization Massachusetts Historical Commission street & number 220 Morrissey Boulevard Christine Beard, Tremont Preservation Services, with Betsy Friedberg, NR Director city or town Boston e-mail christinebeard@verizon.net date _December, 2010 telephone 617-727-8470 state MA zip code 02125 Additional Documentation Submit the following items with the completed form: - Maps: A USGS map (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location. A Sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Key all photographs to this map. - Continuation Sheets - Additional items: (Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items.) United States Department of the Interior lational Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Forr NPS Form 10-900 MB No.

1024-001 Thule-Plummer Buildings Name of Property (Expires 5/31/2012) Worcester, MA County and State Photographs: Submit clear and descriptive photographs. The size of each image must be 1600x1200 pixels at 300 ppi (pixels per inch) or larger. Key all photographs to the sketch map.

Name of Property: Thule-Plummer Buildings City or Vicinity: Worcester County: Worcester State: MA Photographer: Christine Beard/Tremont Preservation Services Date Photographed: March, 2010 (Thule Building) September/October, 2010 (Plummer Building) Description of Photograph(s) and number: Photo Image Name Description 1 of 12 MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlummer1.tif Thule Building-view SW showing façade (E elevation) 2 of 12 3 of 12 MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlummer2.tif Thule Building-view NW showing S elevation MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlummer3.tif Thule Building-view E showing rear (W) elevation Supplemental photographs 4 of 12 MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlummer4.tif 5 of 12 6 of 12 7 of 12 8 of 12 9 of 12 10 of 12 MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlummerS.tif MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlummer6.tif MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlummer7.tif MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlummer8.tif MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlummer9.tif MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlumme10.tif Plummer Building-view W showing façade (E elevation-right) and Thule Building - N elevation (left) Plummer Building-view S showing N elevation of main block Plummer Building-view SW showing N elevation of rear addition Plummer Building-view N showing S elevation Plummer Building-view E showing rear (W) elevation Thule Building-view NE showing typical conditions in historic E stairwell Thule Building-view N showing typical conditions in historic W stairwell 8 Inited States Department of the Interio Nºs Form Po-doService / National Register of Historic Places 8 No.

102-0518 Thule-Plummer Buildings Name of Property 11 of 12 MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlumme11.tif 12 of 12 MA_Worcester(Worcester County)_ThulePlummer12.tif (Expires 5/31/2012) Worcester, MA County and State isoric finisies in maiw So showing typical Plummer Building-view E showing typic onditions in stairwell of the rear additio Property Owner: (Complete this item at the request of the SHPO or FPO.) name 184 Main Street Associates LLC street & number 184 Main Street city or town Worcester telephone state MA zip code 01608 benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C.460 et seq.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 18 hours per response including time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form.

Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Office of Planning and Performance Management. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, 1849 C. Street, NW, Washington, DC. (Richards Standard Atlas of the City of Worcester, Massachusetts. Richards Map Company, 1911.) (Insurance Maps of Worcester, Massachusetts. Sanborn Map Company, 1936.) 6266 767 SISGREEN T 4346 32.8 5670 5145 3309 66.2 W.N. NACKETT EST 8259l ,50. 40/2 EO 30 20 GEORGE 10wre 7893 ANNEO. CoERO 15000 225777 7712.-Barnard Houe Plummer Building ae. 49.9 ANAGHA THULE BLOG 387 THULE MUSIC HALLSASEO T-SZ- GEQI 237 LroBas ETAL 6872 7077 la Thule Building UNPAVrO Sakyb ,0°,0k 716.0 TIM 9) 56 T.A ELLET 4011 W. H. HACKETT MEIRS (Atlas of the City of Worcester, Worcester, County, Massachusetts. F.W. Beers & Company, 1870.) (Atlas of the City of Worcester, Massachusetts. L.J.

Richards & Company, 1896.) EDEN dung W W YLAND 15800 MARIA Plummer Building Barnard House BARNARO HEIRS 8467 Baldwin/Eaton House REBECOA BARNARO 6383 ST.-- DS. MESSINGER GEO. DOBBS NEIRS (aT ALI 6872 SSINGER N 208 Thule - Plummer Buildings Worcester County, Massachusetts Historic Maps Thule - Plummer Buildings Worcester County, Massachusetts Sketch Map MENIRUDE/ WYOMING DR AVE ROBINSON PL 6 08-021-00014 8 PLUMMER 12 BUILDINGL11 4 GEORGE ST. 7 9 THUCE BUILDING 10 4.37 1, 2, etc.

= photo # UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET REQUESTED ACTION: NOMINATION PROPERTY Thule--Plummer Buildings NAME: MULTIPLE NAME: STATE & COUNTY: MASSACHUSETTS, Worcester DATE RECEIVED: 1/03/11 DATE OF 16TH DAY: 3/01/11 DATE OF WEEKLY LIST: REFERENCE NUMBER: 11000019 DATE OF PENDING LIST: 2/14/11 DATE OF 45TH DAY: 2/18/11 REASONS FOR REVIEW: APPEAL: OTHER: REQUEST : N DATA PROBLEM: N LANDSCAPE: N LESS THAN 50 YEARS: N PDIL: N SAMPLE: N PERIOD: N PROGRAM UNAPPROVED: N SLR DRAFT: N NATIONAL: N N N COMMENT WAIVER: N ACCEPT RETURN REJECT 2.18-1l DATE ABSTRACT/SUMMARY COMMENTS: Entered in The National Register of Historic Places RECOM.

/CRITERIA REVIEWER DISCIPLINE TELEPHONE DATE DOCUMENTATION see attached comments Y/N see attached SLR Y/N If a nomination is returned to the nominating authority, the nomination is no longer under consideration by the NPS. Main Stree! OFTRING INVESTMENT GROUP alphagraphics" LAW LIBRARY ON Thule Burling THULE-PLUMMER IEBUILDINGS Morcestar (Worester Co.) - MVA Photo loft CHRISTINE BEARD PHOTO MARCH 2010 THULE BEDG. VIEW SW SHOWING EAST ELEVATION MA_WORCESTER(WORCESTERCOUNTV)_THULEPLUMMER1.tiF EPSON EPSON EPSON EPSON IPSON EPSON EPSON EPSON SON Thule Buulding THucE- PLUMMeR I## BUILDINGS Worcester (Worrester Co.)-MA Phoo 2of12 CHRISTINE BEARD PHOTO MARC 2010 THULE BLDG. VIEW NO SHOWING GEORGE ST.

(S) ELEVATON MA_WORCESTER(WORCESTERCOUNTY)_ THULEPLUMMER2.fif EPSON EPSON EPSON PSON EPSON EPSON PSON Lunn- Thuk Burkein Worcester (worcester Co.)-MA Mato3 o THULE-PLUMMeR 177 Buildings CHRISTINE BEARD PIOTO MARCH 2010 THULE BLDG. - VIEW E SHOWING REAR(W) ELEVATION MA_WORCESTER(WORCESTERCOUNTY)_THULEPLUMMER3.tif Son SOT EPSON EPSON EPSON Flummer Buildins Thule/ Plummer Burkding Worceser county, MA Phots 4 ofiz Thule-Plummer Buildings CHRISTINE BEARD PHOTO SEPT 2010 PLUMMER BUDG. - W VIEW SHOWING FACADE (E ELEV., RIGHT) and THULE BLDG. N ELEV.(LEFT) M1_WONCESTER(WORCESTERCOUNTY)-THULEPLUMMER4.fif NOSdB d3 NOSd NOSdE NOSd. NOSd OSd Plummer Elag. Thue/ Flummer Building Worcester Çounty, MA Phoy5 Thule-Plummer Buildings CHRISTINE BEARD PHOTO SEPT 2010 PLUMMER BUDG. - VIEW S SIOWING N ELEV.

T MAIN BLUCK MA_WORCESTER(WORCESTERCOUNTY)_THULEPLUMMERS.Aif EPSON EPSO EPSON EPSON ON EPSON EPSON EPSOI Flummer Bldg. Thule/ Plummer B0 Worester County. MA Photo6ofi2 Thule-Plummer Buildings CHRISTINE BEARD PHOrO SEPT 2010 PLUMMER BLDG. - VIEW SW SHOWING N ELEV. Of ReAR ADDITON MA-WORCESTER(WORCESTERCOUNTY)_THULEPLUMMERG.fif SON EPSON EPSON SON SON EPSON EPSO Plummer Blds Thule/Plummerepuilgina Woroster County, MA Photo 7of1z CHRISTINE BEARD PIOTO SEPT 2010 PLUMMER BLDG. - VIEW N, SItOWING S ELEV. MA_WORCESTER (WORCESTERCOUNTY)- THULEPLUMMERY. tiL IPSON Thule-Plummer Buildings EPSON EPSON EPSON EPSON EPSON Plummer Bidg. Tnule/Plummer Warester Coonty, MA Phoo8of 12 CHRISTINE BEARD PHOTO SEPT 2010 - PLUMMER BUDG. - VIEW E, SHOWING REAR (W) ELEV. MA_WORCESTER(WORCESTERCOUNTY)-THULEPLUMMER8.ff Thule-Plummer Buildirgs SO EPSON EPSO EPSON EPSO EPSON EPSON Thule Burkding.

Thuie/Flummer Brild Worcester Coundy, MA Phoo 9ofi2 Thuk-Plummer Buildings CHRISTINE BEARD PHOTO SEPT 2010 THULE BLDG. INTERIOR YYP NE, EAST STAIRWELL CONDITIONS MA_WORCESTER(WORCESTERCOUNTY)-THULEPLUMMER9.Aif NOSd NOSd NOSda NO NOSda NOSda (OSd3 NOSdE Thue Blds. Thiule/Plummerbumu" Warrester County, MA Photo 10 afiz CHRISTINE BEARD PHOTO THULE BLDG. INTERIOR VIEW M WEST STAIRWELL TYPICAL CONDITIONS SEPT 2010 MA_INORCESTER(WORCESTERCOUNTY)-THULEPLUMMER1O.fif Thule-Plummon Buildings NOSd NOSd ON NOSd3 Plummer Bloq. Thule Plummer Thule-Plummer Buildings Warcester County, MIA Phats lof/z CHRISTINE BEARD PHOTO SEPT 2010 PLUMMER BLDG. INTERIOR VIEW SW MAIN BLOCI TYPICAL HISTORIC FINISHES MA_WORCESTER(WORCESTERCOUNTY)-THULEPLUMMERIL.fif NOSd NOSd3 NOSda SO NOSd NOSdE Plummer Bldg. Thute/Plummer Worester county, MA Photo 12 of 1Z.

Thule- Phummer Buildings CHRISTINE BEARD PHOTO PLUMMER BLDG INTERIOR VIEW E REAR ADDITION STAIRMELL SEPT 2010 MA_WORCESTER(WORCESTERCOUNTY)_THULEPLUMMER12.Aif 109 NOSd NOSdB NOSda NO- NOSdE NOSd3 City of Worcester Tax Map Tile: M23 WILLIAM CEDAR Thule-Plummer Buildings Worcester, MA Updated as of: September 5, 2006 Buildin, Ganaga Oubuldr SCHOOL Legend -Parcel Stront - Paved Streot- Unpaved Arpo Ralrod -*/0/ C3 Treed Are Tho Gric Pared ng Department, updated as of September 5, 2001 THOMAS TAYLOI I Feet Tile: M23 L24 CENTRAI Citv of Womester WORCESTER ThulePlummer Büildings Worcester, MA ster Count City of Worcester, Massachusetts Peter B. Schneider Chair J. Thomas Constantine Vice-Chair RECEIVED DEC 1 0 2008 MASS. HIST.COMM December 5, 2008 Ms. Betsy Friedberg Massachusetts Historical Commission Massachusetts Archives Building 220 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, Massachusetts 02125 Dear Ms.

Friedberg: Please be advised that the Worcester Historical Commission voted 4-0 at its meeting on October 23, 2008to fully support the inclusion of the MACRIS-registered building located at 184 Main Street, Worcester,Massachusetts on the National Register of Historic Places. This building was formerly known as the Thule Building and Thule Music Hall and included the Continental Hall, the Vasa Hall and the Svea Hall. The Worcester Historical Commission was supportive in the past of the application submitted by 184 Main Street Associates, LLC to receive Massachusetts Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits to restore this building because it constitutes an important architectural asset of the City of Worcester. Sincerely, Pt Uniie Peter B.

Schneider Chair CC: Ann Lattinville, MHC Christine Beard, Tremont Preservation Services Worcester Historical Commission 44 Front Street, Suite 510, Worcester, Massachusetts 01608 Telephone: (508) 799-1400 Fax: (508) 799-1393 E-Mail: planning@ci.worcester.ma.us Website: www.ci.worcester.ma.us REGEE/7ED2800 JANAN302812011 ACIDAM NAUNAEGREGISTORIOSTORIOPIC.CESCES NATIANALFABR SERSICEICE The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Massachusetts Historical Commission RECEIVED 2280 JAN 0 3 2011 NAT. REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE December 23, 2010 Mr. J. Paul Loether National Register of Historic Places Department of the Interior National Park Service 1201 Eye Street, NW 8th floor Washington, DC 20005 Dear Mr.

Loether: Enclosed please find the following nomination form: Thule-Plummer Buildings 180-184 Main Street, Worcester (Worcester County), MA The nomination has been voted eligible by the State Review Board and has been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer. The owners of the property in the Certified Local Government community of Worcester were notified of pending State Review Board consideration 60 to 90 days before the meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment. One letter of support has been received Sincerely, Betey quedlierg Betsy Friedberg National Register Director Massachusetts Historical Commission enclosure CC: Edgar Luna, Worcester CLG Coordinator Christine Beard, Tremont Preservation Services Deborah Packard, Preservation Worcester 184 Main Street Associates LLC Joseph C.

O'Brien, Mayor, City of Worcester Peter Schneider, Worcester Historical Commission Chair, Worcester Planning Board 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125 (617) 727-8470 - Fax: (617) 727-5128 www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc