BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
- ief no 9c0cob1y FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston - - 1 1. Town Address Name_ Present use In Area no. Form no. 130-CBD- 59 Worcester 50 Franklin Street The Bancroft Hotel commercial/apartments 2. Photo (3x3" or 3x5"') Staple to left side of form Photo number Ro1l 28 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. Present owner 3. Description: Date Lewis Busconi 2 Wood Rd. Hopkington, Ma.
01748 1912-1913 Source dedication article Style Beaux Arts Classical Architect _ Esenwein & Johnson ol Buftalo Exterior wall fabric brick Oütbuildings (describe) none Other features granite, marble and terra- cotta trim, arcaded basement, pedi- mented window frames, banding at top two stories rear wing added 1925 Altered entry awnings Date mid-20th removed century Moved no Date 19/268900/4682300 UTM' 5. Lot size: Assessors' Bk. 3, pg. 13 Lot 16 33,502 sq. It. One acre or less Over one acre Approximate frontage 117' Approximate distance of building from street 10! .. 6. Recorded by B.R. Pfeiffer Organization_Worc. Heritage Pres. Soc. Date December 1977 (over) M-7-77 - 7. Original owner (if known) Bancroft Realty Company Original use hotel Subsequent uses (if any) and dates commercial/residential apartments, after 1964 8.
Themes (check as many as applicable) Aboriginal Agricultural Architectural The Arts Commerce . Communication Community development X X Conservation Education Exploration/ settlement Industry Military Political Recreation Religion Science/ invention Social/ humanitarian Transportation 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) Built at the height of Worcester's prosperity, the former Bancroft Hotel is an opulent example of Beaux Arts classical design. The building is of steel-frame construction, nine stories high, rising from an arcaded base of rusticated marble. Upper floors of the building are Iaced with At the and garlands. The building's top two stories are banded with terracotta. Finished elevations face Franklin Street (north) and Portland Street (east).
Upon completion the building's Portland Street side extended approximately 2/3 of its present length; it was enlarged southward in 1925, in the same style as the original part of the hotel. The Bancroft Hotel, built between 1912 and 1913, was the city's most opulent hotel, described by historian Charles Nutt as "one of the most representative institutions of the city, originated by the public spirit of a new generation of leaders in city affairs... erected by Worcester money and conducted by Worcester men." in building & luzury hotel began in 1910 when Alfred Aiken "took the initial step by enlisting the aid of Frank A. Dudley, president of the United Hotels Company, and the cooperation of the Board of Trade." Bancroft Realty Company was formed In 1911 and plans were prepared for the construction of a hotel of 225 rooms which could later be expanded to 320 rooms.
Before construction began, the decision was made to construct the building to the larger size. The construction was carried out by the company of George Blake Long of 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, (cont.) early maps, etc.) The Worcester Magazine, vol. XVI, no.10, Oct. 1913, pp. 301-314 (illustrated article) - Nutt, C. History of Worcester, vol. II, pp. 1038 and 1941-1043 INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commnity : Worcester Form No: 130-CBD- 59 Property Name: Bancroft Hotel Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. Chattanooga, Tennessee at a final cost oI $1,250,000 An illustrated shows the major public rooms with their original fittings.
Again according to Charles Nutt, "the Bancroft Hotel since its opening has been the center of all important social functions. It has stimulated social life and created a new interest in dancing, functions." Named for George Bancroft, historian, the building was EIEE operated as a hotel until 1964. Staple to Inventory form at bottom Property Wanceoter Mltple Resonre Duea(Pasteal Laventary) State MA (Warcester Working Number8. 30.79.2060 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 383 +13 Maps 2,63 rentie cl, HIsu /aA) acl /Acapt 10.30-74 frstat this time (P.g.S.deckero) Doune ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN pposetion is igh Wiro problemo wan som propertus are lited on actached shets conam ufh Bmiés ummeto n 102-L-3 N6-CBD-", "7-E, and 130-CBD-J0 and 74.
Intonty wud /o bomdanies need to be adlesseel ppeaficlly on induidual ARCHEOLOGIST 16-CBD- 1 15 44 - , cot jaegorith, ce atad l ie 102-L-3 - Period s sinificanee and cotegorzatin descussed with WINH 3 EXCENTONS AU PROPERTIES APPEAK TO ME TO MEET AK CRITERI AND ME OTHER FORMS ARE ADEQUATE RED BOTH TECHNLALLY AND TO RETERMINE SICNIFICANCE. ALMOWEH SAME OF TIE FORMS DID NOT CONTAN STRONK STATEMENS IF SIGNIFICANKCE THE ACLEDT KESOURCE CHEGONIES WERE TUDROUGHLY DISCUSSED IN THE BODY OF MHE NOMINATION; 2/2888 THENEFBRE SNGNIFICANCE MAS ESTABLSHED. HBDS WERE NOT NECESSARY BELNSE Of MYE SCHE MAPSAND CLEARLY DEUNEATE BOUNDANCS . AURENDE WES pRIsSINA HAER DAS SANCE PROPEATTES BUT EIIS NOW INCLIDED AFTER THE 2/11/ CORREIRONS. THE ONLY RROPERTIES TKKT I DO NDT RECOMMEND LASTING ARE - 116-CBD-13 -DESMOYCO DY FIRE Mo- 1oCBD-!1 Inventory.
Review 130-CB0-44- DDES NOT RETAIN INTEGRITY FOR INDI UIDUKAELGBILITY v102-2-3 / PEISSPAL LOT CONVINLED ABOUT BOUNDANES REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BELLEUE MHEY BOCD BE OK. W BAGED DN ADDITONAL DOCUMLENTATON SUBMITTED - / DEPER JUDLEMENT. Recommand Listine all propertres sescept these 3. Return 116-CBD- to Stute (not etigeble); as to durcuss futha N/NR +State. DUBIE BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/81 Retum 102-L-3 to State fer curectem; HOLD 130-CBD -44 for info from stute DURIE Staff conferinu 3/5/30-agrud to action as pustid belrro; 16-CBD-" (officcal notficati of Stite fi. wo sfate) KEEPER Entered Saldhe_ 3/5/80 MAR 5 1980 National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2.3 Send-back Re-submit United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service by Berkey Prestige Prints AUG 1979 130-CBD-59 Barcreft Hotel 50 Frankelin St.
Worostor MRA, lestt nouth elevations JAN 1978 JAN 1978 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304