Most Endangered Structures

For the past sixteen years, Preservation Worcester has published an annual list of Most Endangered Structures. The List alerts the public to threats to some of our city’s most historic treasures. It garners city-wide attention to the condition of the structures and their importance to the landscape of our city, and often serves as a catalyst for restoration and preservation. During the year, our dedicated Most Endangered Structures Committee monitors the buildings and works with the property owners. As one might expect, we experience great successes and demoralizing failures.

During the past year, we worked with the state on the Clock Tower and Hooper Turret at Worcester State Hospital. Most of the historic complex was demolished and the new psychiatric facility is about a third of the way toward completion. The state is currently assessing the Clock Tower and plans to identify and address critical structural problems in the near future. We are currently endeavoring to ascertain if the buildings qualify for state and federal historic tax credits. After the determination, we will continue the lengthy process of finding a reuse for the building. The asbestos has been removed from the Belmont Public Health Lab and are hopeful that the Worcester Technical High School students will begin the restoration of the building in the fall. We are pleased that the Rufus Chase House and Bentley-Jackson Cottage were sold, but it is a bittersweet victory as both houses will be vinyl sided and the historic wood windows will be replaced with vinyl windows. Our concern with the 41-45 Lancaster Street area is mitigated. The two lots where the properties were burnt and demolished have new structures being constructed. Although we have not seen the final plans, the architect did visit Preservation Worcester for information on buildings in that area and the size and scope of the buildings seem appropriate. We are working with the new owner of the remaining property at 45 Lancaster. Although it appears that the building is too compromised to restore, the owner and his architects are working cooperatively with Preservation Worcester and have modified their plans so that the new building will be appropriate to the setting and historic neighborhood. We continue to work to identify the historic markers in the city and are working to have them restored. We remain concerned about Notre Dame des Canadiens. The magnificent downtown church is vacant, unheated and lacking routine maintenance. Also of note, the Eagle statue (2008 Most Endangered Structures List) on West Boylston Street that was designed by noted Swedish artist Carl Milles has had a facelift. The base was recently repointed by the city and the plaza was repaired.

This year’s List includes new and repeating structures. We encourage you to assist us in safeguarding them for future generations and encourage you to nominate buildings that you feel are in peril.

Use this link to download the 2011 Most Endangered Structures Nomination Form. Completed forms are due by January 14, 2011.

2010 Most Endangered Structures List

The Junction Shops
64 Beacon Street

The Odd Fellows Home
40 Randolph Road

Quinsigamond Firehouse
Blackstone River Road, formerly 837 Millbury Street

Mission Chapel
205 Summer Street

Worcester State Hospital: Clock Tower Building and Hooper Turret
305 Belmont Street

Frank Waite House
251 Salisbury Street

Fayette Amidon House
8 Germain Street

Buildings at Lincoln Square

Historic Markers of Worcester

Wood Windows of Worcester

Among the “success stories” from previous Most Endangered lists are: Bull Mansion/GAR Hall on Pearl Street, which was restored as a restaurant; the Chestnut Street Congregational Church, now the New England Dream Center; the Shaarai Torah Synagogue, recently converted into condos and lofts; the Rogers Kennedy Memorial in Elm Park which has been restored and rededicated; the Tiffany stained glass windows of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church on Southbridge Street near Holy Cross; the Quinsigamond Baptist Church, which was moved a quarter mile in Quinsigamond Village and is now the Steeple Marketplace; and the Worcester Five Cents Savings Bank Street Clock at 50 Front Street. The popular clock, erected in 1891, has been restored and returned to its downtown location.