THEN

Morse-Claflin House, 34 Oread Street, 1977

Photograph taken by Susan McDaniel Ceccacci

The photograph above, taken for the 1977-1978 survey, shows the house in its altered state.  Unaltered were notable Italianate features, including a gabled center pavilion and a pair of round-arched windows at the center of the main façade, as well as handsome bracketed eaves with wide friezes at the roofline.  However, the original siding is covered up with wide shingles, its front porch is closed in and shingled, and ornamental bracketed returns on both the main façade and at the gable ends had been removed.  While many stylistic features survive, much of the building’s original character has been lost. 

A statement included on the survey form for this building speculated that the house had once been much grander in appearance – that the house might originally have looked very similar to an Italianate style dwelling designed by Worcester architect Elbridge Boyden, which had once stood at 32 Cedar Street, (see below). 

Late-19th-century view of 32 Cedar Street, circa 1850s, Elbridge Boyden, architect

Photograph courtesy of Worcester Historical Museum

THEN

Morse-Claflin House, 34 Oread Street, 2010

Photograph taken by Thomas Lingner

1978 Speculation Proves Accurate

A look at the Morse-Clafin House today shows that the 1978 speculation about its original appearance was surprisingly accurate.  Now liberated of its mid-20th-century shingle siding, the house has recovered much of its historic elegance.  Although we do not know exactly how it looked when it was built, the house today seems to be missing only a few important original features.

Comparison of photographs taken in 1977 and in 2010, show handsome details that were still in place when the shingles were removed.  Now visible at the center of the main façade is a distinctive arched recess with a substantial moulded edge – previously hidden from view.   Also revealed is siding on the face of the center pavilion made up of flush boards, to give the effect of smooth stone, and clapboard siding on the remainder of the house.

Still missing today are bracketed returns on the gabled center pavilion of the main façade and on the side gables.  The unusually wide boards above the paneled pilasters on the center pavilion, where they would have been located, are clues that they are missing.  To see how the façade would have looked when they were in place, compare the 1977 and 2010 views with the photograph of 32 Cedar Street.

The present porch is narrower and lower than the original porch (seen, covered up, in the 1977 photograph).   The porch in the 1977 photograph quite certainly would originally have had a balustrade on top, as did the much wider porch at 32 Cedar.

Evidence of another missing feature can be seen near the peak of the façade gable, where there is now a small square window.  The window frame of that window cuts into the frieze above, suggesting that it is not an original feature.  In its place there was probably a round window, like the one seen on in the picture of 32 Cedar.

Further study would be required to learn whether the original porch extended across the width of the main façade, as does the one at 32 Cedar.  Interior investigation would be required to discover whether or not there ever was a cupola atop the roof of the Morse-Clafin House, as there was at 32 Cedar.

Cleaning House?

Do you have salvage items?

We are less than three months away from our
"Better than Your Average Yard Sale"
(Architectural Salvage and Antiques Sale)

If you have any items such as architectural elements (mantles, windows, hardware, stained glass), fine furniture, china and glassware, carpets, vases, artwork or other collectible that you are willing to donate to our sale, please let us know. We will happily pick up your donations if you desire.

Please email us at info@preservationworcester.org
or call 508-754-8760 if you have a donation.

Preservation Worcester

Wish List

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Brochure Holders

Lucite Flyer Stands

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or call 508-754-8760
if you would like to donate any of these items.