BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
FORM B - BUILDING - MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - - In Area no. Form no. 102-M 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number Expos. 13A,14A, 15A Ro11 31 - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. 1. Town Worcester Address 1 John wing Road Name Aldus Hisgins House Present use meeting rooms Present owner 3. Description: Date Worcester Polytechnic Institute Institute Road Worcester, Mass.
1921-1923 Source Sunda; Telegram Style neo-Tudor - "Period House" Grosvenor Atterbury of Architect New York stone, brick and Exterior wall fabric stucco Outbuildings (describe) stable/garage semi-octagonal entry Other features tower with crenellations carved screen over entry, carved si with brick e stucco ston orestontuworin-111i, moerin casement windows, pilastered and panelled chimneys Altered no Date no Moved UTM: 5. Lot size: 19126834044683950 Date Assessors' Book 20, p.39 Lot 2 50,000 sq.Ît. (house) One acre or less 5,Over erone acrearage 300' Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street 501 B.R. Pfeiffer 6. Recorded by Organization Date Worc. Heritage Pres. Soc. February 1976 (over) 30M-5-77 7. Original owner (if known) Original use Aldus Chapin Higgins residence Subsequent uses (if any) and dates meeting rooms (present) 8.
Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Çommunication Community development Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation +) 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) Begun in 1921 . and completed in 1923, the Aldus Higgins ilouse is the most elaborate of Worcester's early twentieth century "period" houses. Although plans for the house were prepared by Grosvenor Atterbury of New o York, Aldus Higgins is believed to have spent a number of years making sketches and gathering materials for the house prior to hiring Atterbury.
Unlike two other ma jor "period" houses in Worcester (Knollwood - Form 75-A - and the Paul Morgan house - in Lincoln Estate form 1l6-L) the Higgins House is known to contain some antique European building materials. The house's entry facade consists oi two wings (set perpendicularly to esch other) containing a semi-octagonal entry tower (with crenellations) at the wings' junction. Throughout, the building is constructed of various materials, following the general pattern of stone (lst storey), half-timbering with brick panels (2d storey)and half-timbering with stucco panels (gables)-. Ihe building's garden facade (south) also is made up ! of two wings, joined at right angles by a two-storey gabled pavilion which contains a two-storey window with ornate tracery. Set behind this.
window is the house's "Great Hall" , a two-and-one-half storey room con= taining panelling, ornately carved woodwork and a mantelpiece which was originally part of the roof of an Italian monastery. At the hall's econd storev is a balcon and organ loft. Mant of the house's leade casements and stained-class windows were bought in Europe and shinpe to the United States after World War I. Other features of the house!s exterior include ornate chinney pots and elaborate foliate decoration in the stucco of the half-timbering. Of much smaller scale, the garage bears the same design elements as the house. Connecting the two (cont.) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Country Life in America, March 1920, pp.57-59.
INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity : Worcester Form No: 102-1 Property Name: Aldus Higgins House Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 9. structures and surrounding the house are original garden walls, gates and terraces. Shortly after its completion, the Higgins House was the subject of an article in Country Life in America : (icarch 1920, p- 57-59) Aldus Higgins (born 1672) was a son of Milton Prince Higgins, a founder of the Washburn Shops at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a fourder of several major local industries, including Norton Company, the Plunger Elevator Company and the Norton crinding Company.Ine younger Higgins attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute, from which he graduated in 1593.
From 1593 until 1096, Aldus Higgins studied law in wasnington,b.., also serving at thüs time as an assistant examiner in the United States Patent Office. In 1890 Higgins was admitted to the bar, and after an extensive trip opened a law office in Worcester in 1091. Eventualli Higgins gave up his private practice to serve as general counsel in the Norton Company, during a period of growtn and re-organization of the firm. Higgins eventuall) became the company's president, also serving as treasurer of the Sanford Alley Stoker Company. - Staple to Inventory form at bottom Property Warceoter Multple Resoure Ava (Pastial lauentary) State MA (Warcester Working Number 8.
30.79.2060 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 38 3 +13 Maps 2,63 Exceetent multyle resource nomesation for the entie cily HISTORIAN Cal/Acapt Lightne hen at thes ime (1g:3.deckers) Oowre ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN Wian probleno wah som properties are: coun wph Amies comment, m. 102-L-3, "C-CBD-", "7-E, and 130-CBD-50 and 44. Integnty and/o bomdaries neid to be addessed speatcally on induidual BBIE ARCHEOLOGIST 15b-CBD- 44-patonst,cumnet tus tted lost integ hrigs need to he - Period s sunificonee ad categorzatum See ttache descussed with WINH 3 EXCENTIONS AU PROPERTIES APPEAN TO ME TO MEET AK CRITERI AND THE OTHER FORMS ARE ADEQUATE RED BOTH TECHNLALL, AND TO DETERMINE BIGNIFCANCE, 2/28,88 THERESBRE SNGNUFICANCE MAS ESTABLSHED. HBDS WERE NOT NELEGSARY BELNSE Of THE SCALE MAPSAND CIEANLY DELINEATES BOUNDARICS .
ALRENDE WES ALISSING DIU SOMCE PROPEATTES BUT EIS MOW INCLIDED AFTER BHE 2/11/ CORRELRONS. HAER THE ONLY PROPERTIES TIKET I DO NOT RECOMMEND LISTING ARE Inventory - - 1/6-CBD-13-DESMOYCO BYFIRE MO - 1U CBD-! Review 130-CB0-44- POES. NOT RETAIN INTEGRITY FOR INDI VDUHAELGIBILTY v102-L-3 / DoSAST WEOT CONVINLED ABOUT BOUNDINES REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BELIEVE MHEY SOUCD BE OK. Recommand ON ADDITTONAL DOCULLENTATON SUBMITTED - / DEFER JUDGEMENT. Listna propertres nexcept these 3. Return 116-CBD-11 to Stute (not elegeble); a to derouss futhe W/NR +State.
DUBIE Retum 102-L-3 to state fer comedem; 3/51 & BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/8 HOLD 130-CBD -44 for info from stute DUBLE Staff confernu 3/5/30-agued to actisi as susted beloro: 16-CBD-11 (officcal notfcati o7 also KEEPER Entered Soldha 315/80 MAR 5 1980 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2.3.81 Send-back Re-submit United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service - MAY 79 30 AUG 1979 102-M . JchnWing Road Htiggins, Aldas, Itause north east elevatione wircester MRA, Ma MAY 79 102-M 3 0 AUG 1979 Itiggins, Aldes, Huse 1 Johm Wing Road west y south elevations Wercster MRA, Ma 102- M 30 AUG 1979 Higgins, Aldus, Huse 1 Jchn Wimp Road stable-west eleva- tiàn : Warcesto MRA, Ma Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304