BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
ref no eoccoblb FORM B - BUILDING MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office oi the Secretary, State House, Boston -- - - - In Area no. Form no. 131-E - - 1. Town Worcester Address Washington Square Union Station Name Present use vacant 2. Photo (3x3"' or 3x5") Staple to left side of form Photo number Present owner 3. Description: Date Penn Central Iransp.Co Room 1310 6 Penn Central Plaza Philadelphia, Pa. 191| 1909-1911 Ro1l 26 - 4. Map. Draw sketch of building location in relation to nearest cross streets and other buildings. Indicate north. Source Worcester lagazine Style Classical Revival (Beaux Arts Watson and Huckel oi Architect_Philadelphia terracotta (glazer UTM 5.
Lot size: 4|269420/4682350 One acre or less Exterior wall fabric_ Outbuildings (describe) none Other features arched entries flanked by marble Ionic coluins, granite base, cast concrete pediments on old tower bases towers Altered _removed _Date1930s? Moved no Date_ Assessors! Book 2, p.14 Lot 12 63,029 sq.ft. Over one acre Approximate frontage Approximate distance of building from street - 6. Recorded by B.. Pfeiffer Organization Worc. Heritage Pres. Soc Date February 1978 (over) nraMMM 7. Original owner (if known)_ - Boston and Alhany Railroad Original use_ railroad station Subsequent uses (if any) and dates vacant (present) 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 x 9. Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above) Presently abandoned and open to the weather, the union station was built between 1909 and 19l1 to replace an earlier Union Station (now demolished) on the northeast side of Washington Square. Ihe earlier building, also owned by the Boston and Albany Railroad, had been designed by the Boston architectural firm of lere and Vanbrunt, anå had been opened in 1075- By the early twentieth century, it became necessary to elevate in-town railroad tracks, making the ground level tracks of the 1o7s station obsolete and requiring its replacement.
After several years in which proposed plans were altered, the present station, the main body of which was modeled after a Roman basilica, was begun in 1909. Construction of the building was delayed by the presence of part of the Blackstone Cansl bed (then in use as a special engineering for the support of the fourndation. Upon completion in 1911, the Union Station possessed two ornate baroghe style towers (each 175' high) rising on either side of the three main entry arches. towers, faced with white marble, were later removed for reasons of struc- tural weakness. The remainder of the building is set on a granite base and faced with glazed white terracotta; the main entries are framed by marble Ionic half-columns.
Although much of the building's original ornate exterior remains intact, the station's interior, including the elliptical : vault of the main waiting room (80' x 128') with its plasterwork add marble trim has been largely destroyed. Constructed of steel and concrete, the building may still be salvagable for re-use. (cont.) 10. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records, early maps, etc.) Worcester Magarine, July 1911, pp.519-527 (illustrated article) utt, C. History of Worcester , vol. II, pp.983-986 (history of Worcester's railroads) INVENTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Office of the Secretary, Boston Commmity: Worcester Form No: 131-E Property Name: Union Station Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below. :9.
During its major period of activity, the Union Station served the oston & Albany the Boston i: Maine, the New York & New Haven and the Jew York Central Railroad Companies. During the early twentieth century the station was an object of civic pride for its vast scale, elaborate classical design and heavy train traffic. Despite the structure's present neglected state, it retains major elements of its original design and is the city's most imposing example Of Beaux Arts Classical architecture, one which also serves as a major local landmark by virtue of its grand scale and prominent site. At present various proposals exist for the building's preservation and re-use. Staple to Inventory form at bottom Property Warcester Mltple Resone Area KPastial Danentary) state MA (Warcester Working Number8.
30.79.2069 TECHNICAL CONTROL Photos 383 + 13 Maps 2, 63 Excllent multyll resource nomsatinn for the entire cely HISTORIAN Worceste. Both the general descrytion o shatereat y dightne conan m/h Baiés umments mn 102-L-3 "6 -CBD - ", "17-E, and 130 -CBD-50 and 44. Intgnty and /o bondaries need to be addiesed speatally on endurdual ARCHEOLOGIST HG- CBD- 17 - Destroved, connot be listed. 130 -CBD- 44 - 1 am nst cenvinced Mus has lost integnit 102 - L-3 - Peuod S descussed with senficanee anl cotegorzatenisee nachto be WINH 3 EXCERTONS AU PROPERTTES APPEAN TO ME TO MEET AK CRITERI AND THE OTHER FORMS ARE ADEQUATE.RED BOTH TECHNILALLY AND TO RETERMINE SIÇNIHCANCER ACMOUL SAUE OF TVEFORMS DLD NOT CONTAN SIRONA STATEMENS IF SIGNIFICANKE THE KESOURIE CATEGONES WERE TUDROWLHLY DICUSSED IN THE BODY OF MHE NDMIMAYON; 2/2888 THEREFBRE SNGNIFICANCE WAS ESTABLSHED.
UBDS WERE NOT NELESSARY BELHSE OF TYE SCHE MAPSAND CLENNLT DELNEATES BOUNTAMES . HURENDE WES MISSING TIU SMCE PROREATES DUT SIS MOW INCLIDED AFTER BE 2/1I/ CORRELTONS. THE ONLY PROPERTIES THSE I DO NOT RECOMMEND LISTING HRE - 116-CBD-13 - DESMOYOBYFIRE MO- 1OCBD-! HAER Inventory - Review PDES. NOT RETAUN INTEGRITY FOR INDI VIDUKBELGIBILITY v 102-L-3 / DDAA HUWBOT CONVINLED ABOUT BOUNDANES REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BUT BELLEÜE THEY DOULD BE OK. # AASEN Recommerl ON ADDLTONAL DOCUMLENTATTAN SUBMITTED - / DEFER JUDLEMENT. Listing proopetres sexcept these 3. Return 116-CBD-H$ to Stute (not etigible); o to durouss futha + state.
DUBIE Retum 102-L-3 to State fer curectem; g BRANCH CHIEF 3/3/81 HOLD 130 -CBD -44 for info from stute DUBIE Staff confernu 3/5/30 - agued to action as zuted belro: deot wih skeyptin-s6-cou-u 36-UkD-1 lofficial notft 116-C60-4) 2 1 30-06044 (Za, fet state sr so sfote) 313/80 REPORT National Register Write-up Federal Register Entry 2.3.81 Send-back Entered Re-submit KEEPER Soldhe 3/5/80 MAR 5 1980 United States Department of the Interior - Heritaqe Conservation and Recreation Service JAN 1978 Vnicn Statión 0 131-E AUG 1979 Washington Square Wereesto MRA horth elevation JAN 197 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000304