The Junction Shops
64 Beacon Street
One of the oldest if not the oldest mill building in Worcester, the Junction Shops is located in the Junction Shop and Beacon and Hermon Streets Manufacturing District, a National Register District. The property at 64 Beacon Street is one of the few remaining factory buildings in the historic district. Built between 1870 and 1878, the Junction Shop is a three storey stone structure 450’ long x 50’ wide.
In its heyday, the Junction Shops area was a major local center of manufacturing and contained an assortment of businesses characteristic of the variety of manufacturing companies upon which Worcester’s industrial success was based. Situated near the railroads, the Junction Shop provided rental space and power for small firms. It housed a number of businesses including the Knowles Loom Works, the Worcester Corset Company and the Cereal Machine Company that developed the shredded wheat biscuit.
Located in a depressed area, the city has initiated a revitalization program for the “Beacon/Federal Neighborhood.” The plan is to rehabilitate the neighborhood utilizing New Market Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits and a creative financing technique that was used to revitalize downtown Greenfield, MA. The Junction Shops is a key component in that plan. The current owner, however, has petitioned the city to demolish the historic structure. The Worcester Historical Commission will consider the demolition delay petition in mid-May. If the Building Demolition Delay Waiver is denied, we will have one year to work to work with the owner to find a reasonable reuse for the building. After the year, the owner will be able to demolish the historic building.