BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
- rel no 8$000952 y FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office oi the Secretary, State House, Boston - - - - - - In Area no. Form no. 68-D 1. Town_ Worcester Address Bancroft Tower Road Name Bancroft Tower Present use park observation tower 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number - Roll #21 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. Present owner Cit: of Worcester 3. Description: Date 1900 Source Nvutt, vol. I Style Romanesque Revival Architect Earle & Fisher History of Worcester Exterior wall fabric boulder stone Outbuildings (describe) none Other features central arched passage. waj, rectangular and circular plan towers, crenellations, faces directl, north and south Altered no Date Moved Date part of Salisbury Park UTM 19/267100/4684760 5.
Lot size: Assessors' Book 20, p.15 Lot 1 - see map 88 One acre or less Over one acre X Approximate frontage_not applicable Approximate distance of building from street 301 Demallie ed. B.K. Pfeiffer 6. Recorded by_ Organization_ Worc. Heritage Pres.Soc Date December 19T7 (over) stephen Salisbur; III 7. Original owner (if known) Original use park observation tower Subsequent uses (if any) and dates same 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce Communication 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) The Bancroft Iower is a two and one-half storey Structure built of boulders and cobbles, trimmed with rock-faced granite.
Asynmetrical in - elevation, the tower has an open arch at its center, which is flanked by two square-plan towers which rise to observation platforms surrounded oy crenellated parapets. Rising from the top of the western tower is a smaller, circular-plan tower which rises to crenellations. In excellent original condition, the Eancroft is the last of three stone observation towers built in Worcester parks in the late nineteenth century- (The other two were the Davis Tower in Lake Park and the Institute Tower in Institute Park, both demolished). Of the three, the Bancroft Tower was bi far the most elaborate. Situated at the crest oi Bancroit hill in salisbury Para, one oi the highest points in Worcester, the Bancroft Tower was designed by the important local firm of Stephen Earle and Clellan Fisher.
The tower was constructed in 1900 for Stephen Salisbury III at a cost estimated to have been $15,000. Both the tower and the hill on which it stands are named in honor of the historian, George Bancroft, a worcester native. During his lifetime Salisbury retained ownership of the parkland and tower, which were given to the city bi the terms of his will in 1907. 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Worcester Historical Society- - Local Parzs File. Sunday Telegram, Sept. 23, 1900. Nutt, listory of Vorcester, vol. I, pp- 222-224,441. Osborn, B.I. In and About Worcester, pp. 26, 65. MAR 5 1980 property Warceoter Multple Resomce Dua (Partial Saueatary) State MA (Warcester working Number8. .30.79.2060 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 383 .+13 Maps 2,63 xullent multyle resource nomenation for the entie cely HISTORIAN of Worcofe.
Both the general descrytion 4 sratevent o Caul/Acapt Lightre 10-30-79 coan u/h Bmiés ummento "G-CBD-", "7-E, and 130-CBD-50 and 44. Intgnty aud /or bondaries need to i0z-4-3, be addiessed spechcally on indurdua ARCHEOLOGIST . See attacheel. 1S-CBD- 44- patonet cumned t linted cost integnthing weed to ba 102-L-3 - Period 5 sienificonce and cotegorzatia descussed with state. WITh 3 EXCENTIONS ALL PROPERTIES APPEAR TO ME TO MEET BE CRITERIS AND MHE OTHER FORMS ARE ADEQUATE.NED BOTH TECHNILALLT AND TO DETERMINE SICNIFICANCE. ALMOUA SAME OF TIE FORME DID NOT CONTAN SIRONG STATEMENS IF SIGNIFICANKE THE ACLEDT KESOURCE CHEDONES WERE TBROWHLY DISCUSSED IN THE BODY OF THE NDRINATION; 2/2388 THEREFBRE SNGNIFICANCE MAS ESTABLSHED. HBDS WERE NOT NELESSAR BELNSE gF MYE SCHLE MAPSAND CLEARLY DELNEATES BOUNDARICS .
ALRENDE WAS MLISSING HAER DIU SAE PROPEATTES BUT EIS NOW INCLLDED AFTER TO 2/1I/ CORRELTIONS. THE ONLY PROPERTIES TKEE I DO NOT RECOMMEND LASTINA ARE Inventory- - 116-CBD-13 - DESAOYCO BY FIRE mo- I6CBD-! Review 130-CBD-44- POCS NOT RETMN INTEGRITY FOR INDI VIDUKA ELGIBILITY v101-L-3 / DNIS DUWEST CONVINLED ABOUT BOUNDANE REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BEHIEVE THEY BOUCH BE OK. DF AASED Recommand D ADDITONAL DOCUMLENTATION SUBMITTED - / DEFER JUDGEMENT. Listne all propetres sexcept these 3. Return 116-CBD-11 to Stute (not etegeble ); as to durcuss tutt W/NR +State.
DUBIE Retum 102-L-3 to State fer coredem; 35 g BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/81 HOLD 130-CBD -44 for info from stute DUBLE Staff conferenu 3/5/30-agued to action as zuted belrroi dcest wa extep, nzt-s (rekung f stete fi 116-CiSD-1 (officcal notfrati f BBD-11) a el 130-CBD-44 (Lichi, frit from sfate) aleo National Register Write-up - Send-back SEE 343/80 REPRT Entered Federal Register Entry Re-submit KEEPER Soldha 3/5/80 MAR 5 1980 United States Department of the Interior - Heritaqe Conservation and Recreation Service MAY - 79 Bancreft Tower Road 3 0 AUG 1979 88-1 Wurvestor MRA, Ma MAR Bancrift Tower 1d south elevation Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304