BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
IORM B - BUILDINdlel no. 80000646 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - In Area no. Form no. 130-CBD 29 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number Worcester , 1. Town Address 365 Main Street W Bank Block and Worcester Count: Name_Institution for Savings Present use bank worcester County Institution for Savings Roll #28 - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. Present owner 3.
Description: Date 1851, 1906, 1969 Source see reverse side #9 Italianate (altered) and Style Classical Revival unknown (1851) Architect Winslow & Bigelow of Boston (1906) Exterior wall fabric granite, stucco Outbuildings (describe)_ none Other features Doric entry, varied Greek decorative details, carved granite posts, bracketed cornice Altered stucco added and buildings joined Date 1969 Moved no Date Assessors' Book, 2, p.26 UTM 5. Lot size: Lots 21 & 23 Totál area 19/268900/4682750 LO,042 sq.It One acre or less _X Over one acre Approximate frontage 75' - Main Street Approximate distance of building from street 10' S Ceccacc1 -6. Recorded by ed. B.R. Pfeiffer Organization Worc. Heritage Pres. Soc. Date November 1977 (over) 30M-5-77 7.
Original owner (if known) Original use Worcester County Institution Ior Savings commercial (bank) Subsequent uses (if any) and dates bank only (20th century) 8. Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural X 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 Worcester County Institution for Savings building, extending along Foster Street from Main Street to Norwich Street, contains two buildings which were connected in 1969 when an alley running from foster Street was built over.
The earliest section of the building is its rear part which was built in 1851 as a joint venture between the Worcester Bank (the parent organization of the Institution for Savings) and the Boston and Worcester Railroad Company. Block, was illustrated in Ihe Cottage Builder's Manual (1056, p.170) by azor aza ted ine to Cota This three-storey structure, called the Bank Zephaniah Baker as a "fine specimen of its kind". In its original form the block had recessed, curved corners, broken scroll pediments over the second storey windows, bracketed flat hoods over the third storey windows, a deep cornice with carved brackets, and trabeated granite store fronts. In the late nineteenth century the granite posts of the store fronts were carved with foliate decoration.
Of the foregoing details only the store fronts and brackets remain; other ornament was removed in 1969 when the exterior was stuccoed and incised to resemble the masonry of the front eraneg and braoketo aecora tne iod to section. (An additional detail survives in a projecting bay window added on the Norwich Street side of the building in the early twentieth century)- In 1852 the bank purchased the railroad's interest in the building. In 1906 the Institution for Savings was moved to a newly completed building (365 Main Street) and the original Bank. Block was sold to the Worcester County Electric Light Company. The Main Street building is (cont.) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Engineering Record, vol. 52, Sept. 9, 1905, p.52; vol. 52, Oct.
14, 1905, Gazette, March 27, 1953, p.l (article on sale and history of Bank Block) Sunday Ielegram, May 6, 1928, Section E (centennial history) Baker, Nutt, C. History of Worcester, Iymeson. Worcester Sankbooks (1966) pP. 39, 69, 73 warche 2l ,ay e dorfe wanuet, Ps p.51 (building notices - Norcross Bros., builders) Cottage Builder's Manual, P. 170 (illustration) voI. II, p.1015. Wne Cstee15 Cunbta ttut,on r5-177: 1828-1928 (centennjal history) INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Worcester Form No: 130-CBD 29 Property Name: Bank BLock and worcester Counti Institution for Savings Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 9. approximately three stories high, containing an open bank-hall at its center; the building is faced with dressed granite.
The facade is symmet- rical with monumental Dorlc columns at its center; extending around the builaing's north and west elevations are an entablature with triglyphs, cornice and parapet. Reminiscent of Greek Revival architecture, the Main Street building is unaltered except for some modern sash and a modern entry. To provide additional office space, the Institution for Savings re-purchased the Bank Block in 1953. The Worcester County Institution for Savings, chartered in 1828, was the city's first savings bank. For most of the time between 1828 and 1903, the Institution for Savings had the same president and treasurer as the worcester Bank, a commercial bank of which it was an off-shoot and with which it shared office space.
The Institution for Savings' first president was Daniel Waldo; other prominent local citizens to hold the position were Alexander Bullock, Stephen Salisbury II, and Stephen Salisbury III. Staple to Inventory form at bottom -Property Warcester Mltple Resamre Aua (Pasteal Dauenten) State MA (Warcester Working Number8. 30.79.2060 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 383 +13 Maps 2,63 Exctent muttyle resaurce nomenatine for The entiie cely HISTORIAN of worceote. Soth the general descrytion statemest ff individual inventon sheet ae sustesua, a reasons done. Eack Kyju of Drajedy anchuded u mnel Lightre 10.30-79 btese at this time (P.g.3.deckera) OdeoreARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN oppocction is ligh. Wino probleno wvah some properties are lited an actached shets. conam m/h Bases umments m 102-4-3, "C-CBD - ", "7-E, and 130-CBD-50 and 17.
Integnty and /o bomdanien wecd to be addleseel sgiatiually on endurdual ARCHEOLOGIST HI6-CBD- 1 - Destroyed, connot be listed. - Peniod s descussed with WINH 3 EXCENTONS ALL PROPERTTES APPEAK TO ME TO MEET AK CRITERI AND THE FORMS ARE ADEQUATE RED BOTH TECHNILALL AND TO PETERMINE SICNIFCANCE, ACMOUEE SOULE EE TE FORMS DID NOT CONTAN STRONK STATEMENS IF SIGNIFICANCE THE KESOURCE CATEDONIES WERE TUDROWLHLY DICUSSED IN DHE BODY OF MHE NONINAION; THEREFBRE SNGNIFICANKE MAS ESTABLSHED. UBDS WERE NOT NELESSANY BELNSE Of TYE SCHE MAPSAND CLEARY DELNEATES BOUNDANCS. HURENDE WHS MISSING DIU SANCE PROPENTES DUT DEIS MOW INCLLDED AFTER DE 2/11/ CORRELRORS. THE ONLY PROPERTES THET I DO NOT RECOMMEND LASTING ARE - 116-CBD-13 - DESMOYCOBYFIRE MO - HO CBD-!! OTHER 2/28,/88 HAER Inventory- Review 130-CBD -44 - PDCS.
NOT RETSUN INTEGRITY FOR INDI VIDUKA GUGIBILITY v102-L-3 / COASA WGOT CONVINLED ABOUT BOUNDANES REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BELLEVE TUEY DOUCD BE OK. - BASED DN ADDLTONA DOCUMENTATON SUBMITTED - / DEFER JUDLEMENT. Recommerl Listing all propertiendexcept these 3. Retur 116-CBD-I to Stute (not etegeble); 7 s to durcuss futta ute. DUBIE Retum 102-L-3 to state fer cumectem; 3/5 BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/8t HOLD 130-CBD -44 for info from state DUBLE Staff confernu 3/5/80 - agrud to action as suted beloro: KEEPER Soldhe 3/5/80 MAR 5 1980 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2.3.81 Send-back Re-submit SEE 313/80 REPOLT Entered United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service WORCESTER COVNTY INSTITVTION FOR SA WoS DO NO ENTER by Berkey restige Prints JUN 1979 130-CBD-29 WOIS Bank 365 Main St.
o MRA, Ma North' West elevation 90 AUG 1979 Aq msand JAN 1978 AUG 1979 130-030-29 WIS B4n 365 Main St. hereoste MRA, Ma Noith elevation Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304 130-LB7-29 WOiS WORCESTER COUNTY INSTITUTION FOR SAVINGS October 11, 1979 Mr. Charles A. Herrington RE: 663 Acting Keeper of the National Register United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation & Recreation Service Pension Building 440 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20243 Dear Mr. Herrington: SUBJECT: Worcester County Institution for Savings 365 Main Street Worcester, Mass. 01608 RE :Worcester Multiple Resource Area We have received communication from you dated September 27th advising that our property at the above address has been nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Trustees of this organization request that this not be done realizing that there are some advantages to having this listing and it is also recognized that there are some disadvantages. It is impossible for us to forecast the future as to whether this building will continue to be useful. Our Trustees have determined that they do not have the right to tie the hands of future management and Trustees by reducing their options as to the use of this property. Therefore, they have asked me as their executive to communicate with you. Would you please indicate as soon as possible that our request has received a favorable action.
Yours very truly, Bute-19 BARTOW KELLY President BK/w 365 Main Street - Worcester, Massachusetts 01608 - 791-2272 Member FDIC - Deposit Insurance Fund of Massachusetts PLACES OCT 1 5 1979 TACHED) DATE ACTION TAKEN INITIALS Rightnn 102911 Mls D00GAc 10-2979 661 = 29 1979 Mr. Limood M. Erskine, Jx. Fletcher, Tilton & Whipple, P.C. Counselors at Law The Guaranty, Building 370 Main Street - Room 1250 Worcester, Massachusetts 01608 Dear Mr.Erskine: Thank you for your letter concerning the proposed listing of the Worcester Multiple Resource Area, Worcester County, Massachusetts, 1n the National Register of Historie Places. The National Register w1l1 consider your comnents during the reviev process and w111 provide a copy of your letter to the Massachusetts State Historic Preservation Officer, Mrs. Patricia L.
Weslowsk1, Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Conmission, 294 Washington Street, Boston,Massachusetts, 02108- Although Natlonal Register reg- ulations require that a property owner be given an opportunity to comnent / on a proposed nomination, an ovner's permission 1s not required for listing. Listing in the Natlonal Register 1s Federal recognition that & property possesses cultural value and is vorthy of preservation. Once listed in the National Register, & property receives 1imited protection through comment by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation on the effect of federally assisted projects on historic properties. Provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1976 provide incentives for the rehabilitation of certain structures listed in the National Register and disincentives for their demolition. Listing has no other effect on the property.
It does not affect the range of actions an owner can take as long as a Federal action is not involved. If the Worcester Multiple Resource Area 1s accepted for listing in the National Register, notice will be placed in the "Federal Register." If additional information is needed to complete the evaluation, or if it is determined that the property does not meet the National Register criteria for evaluation, the nomination will be returned to the State. We appreciate your participation in the National Register commenting process. Sincerely, Carel D. Shull TSgd.T - Charles A. Herrington Acting Keeper of the National Register Identical letters sent to: cc: Candace Jenkíns, N.R. Coordinator for Mass. Historícal Conmission J. M. Amit, Clerk, P11grim Congregational Church, Mass. John M. Carlson, Administrative Assistant Memorial Hospital Mass. J. I.
Goff, President, The Mart, A division of United Factory Outlet, Mass. Sherburne B. Rockwell, Jr., R.C. Taylor Associates, Mass. Bartown Kelly, President Worcester County Institution for Savings, Mass Chris Kelly, Worcester Multiple Resource Area cc: Massachusetts SHPO, Mrs. Patricia L. Weslowski bcc: Director's Reading File FHR: SLightner:mjd 343-6401 BASIC FILE RETAINED IN NR 10/25/79