BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
rel no 80000612 FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office oi the Secretary, State House, Boston 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number RO11 27.1- :3 61: 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. 2990 F1i D53 .-"!') 007:28 ::0" .Ln.T T:3J - R DOSLESE TL .'9 1390 JºiLET ::9" In Area no. Form no. 130-CBD- 50 1. Town Address Worcester 631 Main Street Worcester Market Building Name_ Present use commercial Present owner Morgan Memorial, Inc. 3.
Description: Date #Source 1914 Worcester Magazine 'Style a eclectic Architect Oreste Ziroli Exterior wail fabric glazed terracotta + Outbuildings (describe) inone tile medaliions with Other features rams' heads and game birds, steer head in high relief, parapet with ornate name plaque, framing of facade windows and entry faced with green glazed tile Altered -minor :Date 1.06: -Moved : no :8 Date TM: 5. Lot size Assessors' Book 3, p.10 11/262620/4682000 Lot 44 30,005 sq.ft. One acre or less - Over one acre 108' Main Street Approximate frontage 227" Madison St. Approximate distance of building from street 10' 6. Recorded by B.R. Pfeiffer Organization Worc- Heritage Pres. Soc- Date January 1978 (over) 27M M 7. Original owner (if known)_ Worcester Market Co. Original use_ grocery market Goodwill Industries (present) Subsequent uses (if any) and dates_ 8.
Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural X The Arts Commerce X 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) Designed by Oreste Ziroli and built in 1914, the Worcester Market Building was believed to be the largest grocery supply store in the United States at the time of its opening. Although the business has passed out of existence, the Market Building remains as a unique example of early swentieth century architecture with its facing of glazed terracotta. addition the building is one of the earlier prototypes upon which current supermarkets are based. Of rectangular plan, the building's major facade faces Main Street.
The parapet of this side rises slightly as if to a pediment and contains decorated tile panels bearing the name "Worcester Market" in addition to a medallion bearing a steer's head in high rellef. The end pavilions of the facade (and of the Madison Street side) bear medallions of game birds and ramsi heads as well as a variety of geometric ornament. Framing of the Iacade windows and entry is faced with green glazed tiles. Upon completion, the building contained a variety of labor-saving innovations. The first floor (oI 25,000 square feet) served as the market, while the second floor and basement were used largely as warehouse space (50,000 square feet total).
Storage was arranged so that goods for ditferent departments were stored directly above or below their respective departments, connections to which were provided by elevators, thereby protecting customers from having "to watch out for heavily laden trucks hurrying in with fresh supplies." Orders that were to be delivered to customers' homes were moved to packing rooms by means of "carrier belts". (cont.) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Worcester Magazine, vol. 18, no.2, 2/1915, pp. 53-56 (illustrated article) Nutt, C. Histor] of Worcester, vol. III, p.233 (Amidon biography) vol.
IV, pp.886-887 (Ziroli biography) INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity : Worcester Form No: 130- CBD-50 Property Name : Worcester Market Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. 9. The market was laid out with wide aisles running the length and width of the building. The interior was planned to accommodate as many as 4,500 customers at one time "without noticeable crowding"; at the peak of its success the store handled the business of 25,000 customers "in an ordinary Saturday's trade". In addition to the main market hall and warehouses, the building housed a bakery (with 20 bakers), a shipping department (with 110 workers), a carpenter shop, an electrical shop, and a kitchen to prepare foods for its delicatessen. The Worcester Market was founded in 1894 by Fayette Asaryl Amidon.
Amidon, a native of Belchertown, had been engaged in various aspects of the grocery and meat-packing business from 1880 in Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Prior to coming to Worcester, Amidon was one of the founders of the Frovidence Public Market Company. and Mr. Amidon came here to take charge of it." For the first twenty years of its business the Worcester Market rented space on Main Street, gradually adding to it as the business increased. In 1914 the business purchased land adjoining its first store, building the existing market building. The building's architect, Oreste Ziroli, was a native of Italy who immi- grated to the United States with his parents in 1890. Ziroli's father, Nicholas, settled in Fall River where he maintained a private studio as a sculptor.
After high school the younger Ziroli worked for several Fall River construction firms, moving to Worcester in 1902 to work as a draughtsman for J.W. Bishop Co. (builders of the Worcester Market). Except for a brief period of service in World War I, Ziroli practiced architecture in Worcester both independently and in conjunction with the Samuel H. Pitcher Company. In addition to designing a number of resi- dences in Worcester, Ziroli was the architect of the city's first Christian Scientist Church (see individual building form - 882 Main Street.). Staple to Inventory form at bottom Properey Warceoter Meltiple Resomee Avea KParteal Danentany) State MA (Warcester Working Number8. 30.
79.2060 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 383 + 13 Maps 2,63 Excetent multyle resource nomesatine for the extiie cely HISTORIAN Soth the general descreytion ael/ acupi Lightae 10-30-79 a reasons oeeiconnon-decke eAR NEECTURAL HISTORIAN propeurties are conan u/h Baiés ummento n 102-L-3 "G -CBD - ", "]-E, and 130-CBD-50 and 17. Intgnty and /o bondanies need to be addeesed ppeatially on endurdual ARCHEOLOGIST H6- CBD - 17 - Destroyed, connot be listel. 130 -CBD- 44 - 1 am nst cenuinced thes has lost integniti 102 - L-3 - Percod n zuenficanes and categorizatim "ge aead to be descussed with WINH 3 EXCENTONS AU PROPERTTES APPEAN TOME TO MEET AK.
CRITERI AND THE FORUS ARE ADEQUATE.RED BOTH TELHNILILLY AND TO PETERMINE SIÇNIFCANCER ACTOUL SAUE OE TNEFORMS BID NOT CONTAN STRONK STATEMENS IF SIGNIFICINKE THE KESOURCE CATEGONIES WERE TUOROUGHLY DISCUSSED IN THE BODY OF MHE NOMINAYONU; TUEREFORE SIGNIFICANCE MAS ESTABLISHED. VBDS WERE NOT NELESSARY BELNSE Of TYE SCHE MAPSARD CLEANY DELNEATS BOUNTAMIES . HURENDE WES MITSING DIU SANCE PROPENTTES DUT EIS NOW INCLIDED AFTER DHE 2/11/ CORRELZORS. THE ONLY PROPERTIES TKET 1 DO NOT RECOMMENR LASTING ARE - 116-CBD-13 - DESNOYCOBYFIRE MO - UCBD-!! OTHER ACLEDT 2/2888 HAER Inventory - Review 130-CBO -44 - DOES. NOT RETRUN INTEGRITY FOR INOI VIDURA ELGHBILITY v 102-L-3 / DbrKasA WBOT CONVINKED ABOUT BOUNDANES REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BELIENE MHEY DOUCA BE DK. BASEN Recommand ON ADDITONAL DOCUNLENTATON SUBMUTTED - / DEFER JUDLEMENT. Listing all propates nexcept these 3.
Return 116-CBD-1 to Stute (not elegeble); to derouss futha tate. DUBlE Retum 102 -L-3 to State fir cumectem; 3/5 BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/81 HOLD 130-CBD -44 for info from stute DOBIE Staff confernu 3/5/80 - agrud to action as zuted beloro: dicaotmoth ex, 2t -3 -16-cB0 11 (official notfuetn- Te a .l 130- CB0-44 (Ledi, frit - State fr.
po sfite) 313/80 REPOT National Register Write-up - Send-back Entered Federal Register Entry 2.3.81 Re-submit KEEPER Soldhe 3/5/80 MAR 5 1980 United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service - MAY 79 130- CBD- SAUG 1979 Waresto Market Building 631 maur St werceste MeA Ma South elevation HOT Resueg Kq SIULH 1S01 JAN 1978 30 AUG 1979 130-CBD-50 luereester Morket Burtoling 631 mam St verceste MRAMRG Westr borth elvation Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304 130-CBD -50 Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, Inc. 95 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (617) 357-9710 gondwill October 25, 1979 Mr. Charles A.
Herrington Acting Keeper of the National Register United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Pension Bui Iding 440 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20243 Re: 663 Dear Mr. Herrington: Morgan Memorial Goodwil| Industries, Inc. respectfully declines nomination of its property at 63l Main Street, Worcester, MA. for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The bui Iding in question was built in 1914 and was known and operated as Brockelman's Market. It was sold 'to Stop and Shop in November 1953. From that time until it was sold to Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, Inc. it was operated as a grocery market. On December 29, 1966 Morgan Memorial purchased the property from Stop and Shop, Inc. to establish a Goodwill Industries in Worcester, the second largest city in the Commonwealth.
Morgan Memorial began its Used Goods recycling program in June 1967. In August 1968, with financial assistance from the Federal and State governments (Rehabilitation Services Administration and the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission) in the form of grants-in-aid, comprehensive Vocational Rehabi litation Services were provided in the Greater Worcester area. From this beginning, the program grew for 10 years. During the month of July 1978, then Governor, Michael Dukakis held a news conference on our property announcing the Commonwealth's decision to take the property. Subsequent to this, Morgan Memorial was asked by the Office of State Planning to permit architects, engineers, appraisers to view our facility, and we were visited by them. We were not officially informed by the Commonwealth of its intentions of the taking until November 14, 1978.
In the meantime, at a series of meetings with community leaders in Social Services, which began in February 1978 and continued with various groups through December 1978 and on into 1979. Fragmenting of our programs, and bonding them to other agencies was discussed. It was felt -2- that the recycled goods operation could be absorbed by St. Vincent DePaul Society and the Salvation Army. After the Governor's news conference of July it was de- cided to close the recycled goods operation in September 1978. During this same month, Commissioner Elmer Bartels, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, urged us to merge with another community program or shut down program operations, especially since our building's taking was so immenent. Many meetings were held regarding merger.
These meetings proved fruitless, and with diminishing referrals for service due to the uncertainty of our physical plant it was decided at a meeting with Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission on November 14, 1978 to close the Rehabilitation Programs December 31, 1978. Again in mid-December, 1978, Governor Dukakis called a conference in his office with Morgan Memorial, Worcester officials, Commonwealth of Mass. Registry, Legislative and Planning officials to confirm the taking and assure that it would go forward in the New Administration. In February 1979 we were contacted by officials of the new administration and assured that the Commonwealth's taking was moving ahead. As late as June 5, 1979 we were told that the Commonwealth would accelerate its taking process.
Later in the month of June we were informed that the site had been dropped from consideration due to the local Historical Society's nomination as an historic monument. We were informed that if the nomination were dropped, that the taking could go forward. A meeting was held with the officials of Worcester and the Worcester Heritage Preservation Society, and the Society did not drop its nomination. Early in July 1979 there was a fire in the rear of the building which caused Morgan Memorial to close a small retail outlet remaining in the building on July 6. On September 6, 1979 all insurance on the building was cancel led due to lack of occupancy. The current condition of the building is unsafe for human habitation. The roof has severe leaks, the ceilings are collapsing, and all wooden floors have buckled. Local Health and Safety officials would not permit us to occupy it.
The cost of rehabilitation of the building will run well over a million and a half dollars which Morgan Memorial does not have, nor does the Historical Society. In September 1979 with the assistance of Worcester officials, security guards were provided through C.E.T.A. for round-the-clock protection of the property fo prevent its total destruction through vandalism and fire. Morgan Memorial, as a private not-for-profit, 50l(c)3 corporation is unable to avail itself of the tax advantages offered to rehabilitate the building. Since last July, the nomination of this building as an historic site has caused tremendous hardships for Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries. It has also dramatically halted a portion of the revitalization of downtown Worcester. - 3- As we began this letter, we respectfully request that this property not be designated an historic landmark.
It is a 65-year-old building in a city hundreds of years old. Very truly yours, illttiann Wcanipten William T. McCarriston Di rector of Human Services WTM/tms