Charles H. Bowker House
3 Harvard Place

Built in 1876 by Sewell Bowker, notable industrialist and inventor of the hat blocking machine, this brick two and one-half story home with alternating red and black brick design sits prominently on a hill and is highly visible from Main Street.  Sewell Bowker's son stayed with him until his death in 1882.  The home remained in the Bowker family until 1923. From then on, it passed to several owners and mortgage companies.  One illustrious resident at this address was famed photographer, Edwin B. Luce

The plans of the recent owner to restore the long-standing fire damaged roof and gutted interior have not yet been realized.  The trashing of the structure and its surroundings has made the situation worse.  The property presently has a trustee to monitor the unstable ownership of this once proud Victorian gothic home which remains boarded up with gaping hole in the roof.  Surely, such a symbol of entrepreneurship in early Worcester needs some serious consideration.  Taxes on this property have not been paid since 2008.