While planning for its new, $302 million mental-health facility in Worcester, the state had intended to raze the facility’s predecessor, the historic 135-year-old Worcester State Hospital. But after a dogged campaign by local activists and public outcry, state officials have wisely decided to preserve the building’s 150-foot iconic clock tower while tearing down the rest.
Losing so much of this architectural gem is a shame: The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 because it is a prime example of Victorian-Gothic style. But the decision represents a graceful compromise. A tragic fire destroyed much of the structure in 1991, so rehabilitating it would have been prohibitively expensive. Converting the tower into a monument is a less expensive option, and one that befits a beloved structure that has helped define Worcester’s skyline for over 130 years.
