Preservation Matters Newsletter
Volume 39, Number 2 Fall 2011
The Clock is Ticking
on the Clock Tower at Worcester State Hospital
We need your immediate and strong support to safe-guard the Clock Tower.
On July 27, 2011, we met with state representatives and were informed by DCAM (Division of Capital Asset Management) Commissioner Carole Cornelison that DCAM has decided to demolish the historic Clock Tower. We were informed that because of the determination by the National Park Service that the Clock Tower does not quality for federal Historic Tax Credits, and in light of the condition of the Clock Tower and the expenses associated with redevelopment or stabilization, DCAM plans to demolish the Clock Tower prior to the opening of the Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, scheduled to open in 2012.
Attending the meeting were Carole Cornelison, DCAM Commissioner, eight additional DCAM employees, Barbara Leadholm, Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health (DMH), an additional DMH employee, Brandee Laughlin (Massachusetts Historical Commission), Drew Leff (GLC Development Resources), Michele Barker (Preservation Massachusetts) and 6 Preservation Worcester affiliated representatives (Janet Birbara, Susan Ceccacci, Rob Para, Peter Schneider, Tim McGourthy and Deborah Packard).
After reviewing the status of the Clock Tower and receiving an update on the progress of the new building, DCAM asked our group to participate in mitigation process. We were not ready to discuss mitigation and ways to memorialize a demolished Clock Tower. We feel that the state needs to market the Clock Tower for redevelopment. If that is not possible, we feel that the state should stabilize the Clock Tower for future development or as an architectural relic.
We need immediate and strong community support from people interested in saving the Clock Tower.
Visit Preservation Worcester’s website at:
www.preservationworcester.org to see how you can help.
- We have a template letter and addresses for elected officials. Letters and phone calls are the best way to make an impact.
- We have a link to our Facebook page - Save the Worcester State Hospital Clock Tower. If you are on Facebook, we encourage you to “like” that page.
- We also have an ipetition that states The undersigned requests that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts reverse its intention to demolish the Worcester State Hospital Clock Tower. We urge the Commonwealth to direct the Department of Capital Asset Management and the Department of Mental Health to market this outstanding historical and architectural landmark to potential buyers for rehabilitation and compatible reuse.
There is a link on our website or you can sign the ipetition at:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savetheworcesterstateclocktower/.
Please encourage friends, relatives and colleagues to act.
Time is running out.
Did you know?
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The Worcester State Lunatic Hospital, the original name of the Worcester State Hospital, was the firststate-owned hospital established in this country to treat mental illnesses.
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The architectural design of Worcester State Hospital reflected the ideas of Dr. Thomas Kirkbride, who promoted the “moral treatment” of the mentally ill.
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The historic Worcester State Hospital campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Worcester State Hospital holds historical significance to the religious communities in the United States. It was the birthplace of Clinical Pastoral Education. Between 1924-1932, Worcester State Hospital Chaplain Rev. Dr. Anton Boisen and his colleagues began pastoral training which remains today pre-eminent model for clinical training of theological students.
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Sigmund Freud visited the Worcester State Hospital in 1909 during his only trip to America and most certainly entered into Clock Tower which was part of the Administration Building.
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In 1900 Linda Richards, the first Registered Nurse in the United States, established a nursing school at Worcester State Hospital to train men and women as nurses to staff the growing number of mental hospitals throughout the commonwealth.
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