City of Worcester
300 Years

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Chapter

Heart of the Commonwealth

Residential to Industry

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Looking East from Denny Hill, Ralph Earl, 1800. Capturing the region’s agrarian beginnings, rolling hills and pastures are dotted by buildings; the only perceivable road is the Post Road to Boston. source: Wikimedia Commons, Collection of Worcester Art Museum

Old City Hall and Old South Meeting House. source: Worcester Historical Museum

Worcester from Union Hill, 1838. P. Anderson, artist; Moore’s Lithography, Boston Depicted here about ten years after completion, the canal was the first step in the transportation revolution that led to Worcester’s transformation from a predominantly farming community to a thriving center of commercial activity source: Worcester Historical Museum.

Foster Street, E.B. Luce, photographer, circa 1935. This view of industrialized downtown is a striking comparison to the Worcester of today. source: Worcester Historical Museum

A view of Vernon Hill, circa 1970. As the city expanded, so did the need for housing. Triple deckers found throughout the city were a new building type that was designed to accommodate more than one family in a single dwelling. An economically sound option, as they used less land on which to build and were thus more affordable. However, as the city expanded further, so did developments, offering a variety of housing options. Source: Preservation Worcester

Take your place in Worcester's history

We invite and encourage you to tell a story, share a photograph or memory…anything that pertains to Worcester. Places in the city that hold special meaning for you, events that shaped your experience, people you will never forget—your stories are welcome.