March 16, 2012 - Telegram & Gazette

Preservation salvation at old Paris Cinema 

Au revoir to dubious sign of past 

The sign on the former Paris Cinema on Franklin Street will be sold at Preservation Worcester’s annual salvage event in the fall. The Mayo Group, which owns the building, donated the sign to Preservation Worcester. (T&G Staff/BETTY JENEWIN) 

By Bronislaus B. Kush TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFFWORCESTER —  It might be the perfect accent piece for a home bar, a games room or a basement recreation center.  But buyer beware.  You’re going to need a lot of space.  

The Paris Cinema sign that sits above the former marquee space at the long-vacant downtown movie house has been donated to Preservation Worcester and the nonprofit hopes to sell it at the organization’s annual salvage event.  

Deborah Packard, Preservation Worcester’s executive director, said officials at the Mayo Group, which owns the Paris Cinema building on Franklin Street, offered the sign free of charge at a recent corporate breakfast that was sponsored by Preservation Worcester.  Ms. Packard said she’s not sure what the sign is worth, but it might be of enough interest to a niche collector, who could find some use for it as an aesthetic piece.  

Such items are often sold at antique and collectibles shows.  The market for the sign, however, might be narrow, given its size.  The sign actually comes in seven pieces, which now spread at least 30 feet across the second floor of the building’s white painted, metal façade.  One piece showcases the word “Paris” in cursive blue lettering, with a red star serving as a dot to the “i.” The six other pieces — each about 6 feet high — are the letters that spell the word “CINEMA.”  

Ms. Packard said she was told the sign will come down in about two weeks and it will be stored at the architectural garage on Harrison Street, where the salvage event will be held sometime in the fall.  Preservation Worcester officials didn’t know how much was specifically raised at last year’s event, which featured items such as doorknobs, mantels, old wood doors, stained glass and furniture. But they said it was between $5,000 and $8,000.  

The Paris Cinema has been listed on Preservation Worcester’s Most Endangered Structures List.  For years, the Paris maintained a seedy reputation because of its X-rated screening rooms and racy bookstore and video shop.  But before it became an adult entertainment center, the Paris, built as the Capitol Theater in 1925, was considered to be one of the so-called “palace theaters” that were designed by big theater chains to make the everyday person feel like royalty.  The theaters, for example, had elaborate lounges, imposing lobbies, and lavish interiors that were very often adorned with European antiquities.  

The Capitol’s inside, for example, was designed to resemble an open-air Spanish amphitheater.

M

Photo - Lt. Gov. Tim Murray oversees the signing of the MOA.  Pictured left to right - Deborah Packard, Executive Director Preservation Worcester, Congressman Jim McGovern, Peter Schneider representing the Worcester Historical Commission, DCAM Commissioner Carol Cornelison, DMH Commissioner Marcia Fowler

On February 24, 2012, a signing ceremony was held at Preservation Worcester. After the commission of the Reuse Study, and negotiations lasting over the past 7 years, a fitting compromise was reached.  A Clock Tower Monument will be reconstructed at the current site of the Clock Tower.  Using cutting edge technology, the tower will be documented and reconstructed to its current height. The tower is scheduled to be reconstructed within a year of the MOA signing and will be illuminated on the skyline.  The state also agreed to secure and safe-guard the Hale Building and Hooper Turret.   And so - The venerable Clock Tower that has majestically graced the Worcester skyline since 1875 will continue to serve as a monument to the past and a symbol of hope and discovery; advancing knowledge as to the causes as well as the treatment and prevention of mental illness.

 The Worcester Lunatic Hospital established in 1832 was the first hospital in the United States to care for the criminally insane. In 1875, it was moved from Summer Street to Belmont Hill and renamed the Worcester State Hospital. In 2012, Worcester’s oldest hospital will become its newest with the opening of a 302 million dollar modern facility, the Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital.

 A magnificent 114-foot clock tower has been the landmark of Worcester State Hospital since 1875. Unfortunately, the building and Clock Tower are structurally unsafe as the result of age, abandonment, fire, neglect and decay over many years. However, an agreement has recently been reached to dismantle the Clock Tower to a structurally safe level in order to reassemble it in the same place and specifications reusing the same (photographed and numbered) architectural elements and granite stones. The Seth Thomas clock will be restored to working order and the finished structure will be illuminated.

 Thus, the venerable Worcester State Hospital Clock Tower that has majestically graced the Worcester skyline since 1875 will continue to serve as a past, present and future monument of hope and discovery; advancing knowledge as to the causes as well as the treatment and prevention of mental illness, including drug addiction.

 We want to express appreciation for the widespread support for this effort from students, mental health clinicians, architectural and medical historians, preservationists, the media, our state legislators as well as the unanimous endorsement from our Mayor and the Worcester City Council.

Deborah Packard, Executive Director

Leonard J. Morse, M.D., member

Preservation Worcester

Dear Friend,

An important part of the State’s plans to demolish the historic Clock Tower at Worcester State Hospital is the submission of an Environmental Notification Form.  The submission was published in the Environmental Monitor on December 21, 2011 and the public comment period extends through January 10, 2012.  It is important that people raise their voices in objection to the proposed demolition.  A simple letter addressing the historical significance of the Clock Tower is suggested.  For information on the historical significance of the Clock Tower, visit our website www.preservationworcester.org.  On the homepage, you simply need to click on Historical Information on the Clock Tower.  We urge you to send a letter to

Secretary Richard K. Sullivan
Executive Office of Engergy & Environmental Affairs
Attn: MEPA
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114

It would also be helpful if you sent or emailed a copy to me

Deborah Packard
Preservation Worcester
10 Cedar Street
Worcester, MA 01609
deborah.packard@preservationworcester.org

We are working hard to preserve the Clock Tower as a monument to the important role that Worcester State Hospital played in the treatment of mental illnesses.  Please get a letter out today.

Thank you,
Deborah

Please read the editorial and help us slow down the fast moving efforts to demolish the Clock Tower.

In Our Opinion

Decision hour

Clock Tower may have one last chance

For the last several years, Preservation Worcester has led a determined but thus far unsuccessful effort to persuade state officials to commit to some plan to save the historic Worcester State Hospital Clock Tower. That effort reaches a critical stage this week. To judge from their latest report on the property, state officials now appear to be committed to demolishing the iconic clock tower, and hope to complete that process by about the time the new hospital opens this year. Preservation Worcester and its allies have two chances left to muster the support they need — a request for support from the City Council Tuesday night, and a meeting with state officials at a site visit on Thursday. It would be unfair — and fiscally unwise — for Worcester officials or local legislators to seek millions of dollars in additional funding to stabilize and preserve the Clock Tower at this time. But neither is there any pressing need for the state to proceed with demolition before Preservation Worcester has had every opportunity to explore ways to save the structure, perhaps through a combination of private, corporate and charitable sources. Constructed in 1877, the Clock Tower is, as Preservation Worcester points out, a prime example of Victorian-Gothic architecture, and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. Whatever the financial and political realities involved, its demolition would be a loss for Worcester’s architectural portfolio. Yet officials with the state Division of Capital Asset Management have made clear they believe that the Clock Tower and remaining, surrounding portion of the former administration building lacks architectural integrity, and that its rehabilitation and reuse are not financially feasible. It has been 20 years since the 1991 fire that ravaged the bulk of the former hospital’s wings. In that time, the state has proceeded with construction of a new, $302 million mental health facility. DCAM’s plans for the Clock Tower site range from a garden to some kind of monument marking the tower’s location. Deborah S. Packard, executive director of Preservation Worcester, points out that her organization has worked for the last three years on the basis of a 2008 state draft that left open the possibility of saving the Clock Tower, only to see the latest, fuller plan move in the direction of demolition, while estimated costs for stabilizing and preserving the Clock Tower have increased by many millions of dollars. Nonetheless, she said, there may be sources of funding for preservation. On Tuesday, Preservation Worcester will ask the City Council to endorse a mission statement to “preserve the

original Worcester State Hospital Clock Tower… reflecting dedication to the care of patients with mental illness and as a monument of hope in advancing improved understanding…” Of course, expressions of interest and support don’t save structures, dollars do, and it will take lots of them to save the Clock Tower in any form. But once gone, this important piece of Worcester’s history will be gone forever. We urge state officials to slow down and give the community every opportunity to make their case for the Clock Tower, before it passes into history.

The State is proceeding forward with plans to demolish the historic Clock Tower that has majestically graced the Worcester skyline since 1875 reflecting dedication to the care of patients with mental illnesses.  Although our goal is to safe-guard the entire structure, we offered a proposed compromise in the Monument pictured above.  At this point, the State is not considering our option.  We feel it is a reasonable alternative that preserves the most visible part of the structure.  In order to be successful, we need your help.  Please “like” our Save the Worcester State Hospital Clock Tower Facebook page, sign our Ipetition (www.preservationworcester.org) and contact your local representatives.  Once this important piece of our history is gone, it is gone forever. 

Preservation Worcester is pleased to announce that we are part of a public/private partnership that will put new life into the iconic Fire Alarm & Telegraph Building at 230 Park Avenue.  Abandoned and neglected for more than 20 years, the property appeared on our Most Endangered Structures List in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008. 

Please see an editorial supporting the partnership that appeared in today’s T&G. 

Worcester Telegram & Gazette - In our Opinion

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Answering the alarm

Just in time, a public-private partnership is rushing to the rescue of one of Worcester’s architectural gems, the 1925 Fire Alarm and Telegraph Building at 230 Park Ave. The City Council this evening will consider an update that outlines plans by Spencer Savings Bank, Preservation Worcester, and the city itself to undertake a comprehensive and faithful restoration.

This plan is a smart one that takes into full account Worcester’s past, present and future, including the needs of the surrounding parkland, commercial possibilities, and respect for one of the city’s most noted architects. It deserves the full support of city officials and the public.

Spencer Savings Bank, which is bearing the bulk of the multimillion-dollar restoration costs, will develop a retail banking office on the second floor, while Preservation Worcester will rent the first-floor space, which will include community meeting space and a catering kitchen. Worcester foundations are contributing $275,000 toward the project, and the city $100,000 for remediation of existing hazards.

The agreement will help raise awareness about and improve access to the trails in the wooded areas of Newton Hill that constitute the bulk of Elm Park.

The building was designed by noted Worcester architect Lucius W. Briggs, whose projects include the Worcester Memorial Auditorium and dozens of area homes, businesses, libraries and other prominent structures, in the U.S. and overseas. Mr. Briggs’ work ranged from designing Norton Company’s plant in Germany to laying out the lettering on the Battle Monument at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

But it was the humble Fire Alarm and Telegraph building — long the city’s nerve center when disaster struck — that was the architect’s favorite. Following his death in 1940, colleagues recalled that Mr. Briggs had labored over the minutest details of the project, and would proudly exhibit it to his colleagues whenever they visited Worcester.

Of course, it takes nothing but time and neglect to undo the richest architectural legacy, and the building’s condition in recent years has grown to nothing short of alarming. Since 2001, it has regularly appeared on Preservation Worcester’s list of the city’s 10 most endangered properties. Time to rescue it from oblivion was fast running out.

Spencer Savings Bank, Preservation Worcester and the city itself have now answered that call.

 This morning (November 16), over 75 Preservation Worcester friends, board members, docents and sponsors along with other Worcesterites gathered in the rotunda at Union Station as we unveiled our “By the Canal” Tour of Worcester’s Canal District.

PW Executive Director Deborah Packard recounted some of the stories that have made the Blackstone Canal District the vibrant neighborhood it is today, including an unforgettable Rolling Stones concert in ‘81 at Sir Morgan’s Cove on Green Street. 

She thanked JoAnn Mills, PW docent and PW Education Director Susan Ceccacci for their hard work in constructing the tour.  Without their passion for Worcester history and architecture, this would not be possible.

She also thanked:

·        The Canal District Alliance who gave us a grant of $3,000 for the project

·        The National Park Service – John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission who gave us a grant of $3,000 for the project

·        Radio personality Mark Veau who voiced the audio tour

·        Worcester Historical Museum Staff

·        Worcester Public Library Staff

·        American Antiquarian Society Staff

·        Dave Maki of Worcester Web who provided technology for smartphone access and created tag signs

·        Jean Paul Raymond of J.P. Raymond Studios who created the brochure

·        Sunshine Signs

 Mayor Joe O’Brien spoke about the importance of recognizing Worcester’s rich cultural and architectural history.  He reminded us that the Canal District was where much of the city’s economic and cultural growth began, and applauded the By the Canal Tour for highlighting the buildings that reflect that history. 

John Giangregorio, president of the Canal District Alliance and Preservation Worcester board member, was the next speaker.  He expressed his enthusiasm for our interest in the Blackstone Canal District, and thanked the audience for their support.  He also emphasized the importance of getting young people excited about local heritage, not only to ensure future preservation movements but to get them more involved in Worcester as well.

Jan Reitsma, Executive Director of National Park Service – the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission spoke to us as well.  He explained how the By the Canal Tour will have a positive impact on community involvement in the city of Worcester.  More than ever, it is important to sustain this keen interest for local historic conservation because it improves our city both for its inhabitants and for its visitors.

Deborah Packard then unveiled our innovative self-guided walking tour.  The tour is accessible in an audio version on smart phones and downloadable to iPods, and is available in a printable version on our website.  Historic markers with QR tags are affixed to buildings on the tour providing immediate smart phone access to the tour.

By the Canal Tour Unveiled was a great event with wonderful Worcester people.  We encourage you to take our tour and let us know what you think. 

On August 22, we sent the letter below to Carole Cornelison, Commissioner of DCAM.  We have not received any response from her.  We also cced the letter to a number of elected officials and pertinent parties.  Vincent Pedone is meeting with us on Monday, September 26, and Tim Murray met with us in June.  Other than that, it appears that we haven’t sufficiently caught anyone’s attention.  We need your help if we are going to have a chance to safe-guard this important property.  We have lots of options on how you can help including call or write your representatives, “like” our Save the Worcester State Hospital Clock Tower Facebook page and sign our ipetition.  We’ve made it easy for you.  All the information you need is available on our website – www.preservationworcester.org.   

August 22, 2011

Carole Cornelison, Commissioner

Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance

One Ashburton Place

Boston, MA 02108

Dear Commissioner Cornelison,

I am writing as a follow-up to our meeting on July 27.  As you may understand, DCAM’s intent to demolish the historic Clock Tower that was expressed at that meeting is extremely unsettling to those of us who care about the structure, and the architectural and historical significance it represents.

At this time, one of Preservation Worcester’s overriding concerns is that when we entered into the Memorandum of Agreement (the “Agreement”) with DCAM, DMH and MHC, the clear intent was to site the new hospital in a location to avoid demolition of the Clock Tower and to retain the Clock Tower for future development.  We do not find any mention of demolition in the Agreement and Preservation Worcester would not have entered an agreement that contemplated such a result.  With significant concessions made by our organization when entering the Agreement, we feel that the state agencies should honor the terms of the Agreement and work toward preservation and reuse of the historic structure.

The Reuse Study that we are cooperatively working on with state agencies clearly states that “If a user cannot be found, the next best alternative for retaining the buildings is to preserve the Clock Tower & Hooper Building as architectural monuments at a cost of $3.2M.”  The numbers and sentiment presented by DCAM at our recent meeting were clearly opposed to this mutual goal.  We request from your office documentation of the minimum cost to stabilize the Clock Tower to assure public safety.  Clearly, the numbers presented at the meeting represented stabilization far beyond public safety concerns.

In addition, we are requesting a final Reuse Study document.  As set forth in the Agreement, “DCAM and DMH, in consultation with MHC, the Worcester Historical Commission, and Preservation Worcester, shall use the contents of the Reuse Study to actively plan for the disposition of the Clock Tower and the Hooper Building, including, but not limited to, the development of disposition legislation and the development of a Request for Proposals concurrent with the state polling process in order to avoid undue delay in the overall disposition process.”  Preservation Worcester respectfully requests that DCAM adhere to this specific intent and purpose of the Agreement. 

Both architecturally and historically significant, the Clock Tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  With its soaring tower visible for miles around, it is a powerful physical reminder of the important role that both Worcester and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have played in the humane treatment of the mentally ill in the United States since the opening of Worcester State Lunatic Asylum (now Worcester State Hospital) in 1833.  The outstanding structure deserves extraordinary efforts by the state for its preservation and reuse.  It is most appropriate that this historic structure remain standing near the new state hospital, as testament to the Commonwealth’s historic and continued commitment to caring for and treating citizens in need of psychiatric care.  Demolition of this monumental building would represent an irreplaceable loss to both the historical memory and architectural heritage of Worcester and the Commonwealth. 

The grand Clock Tower has been an important local landmark for over 100 years and we are committed to having the Tower remain a treasured local icon.  We encourage the state to pro-actively market the building to a private entity for a compatible use.  If that proves not viable, we feel strongly that the Clock Tower must be stabilized either as an architectural monument or saved for future development. 

In closing, we want to again emphasize that we welcome the opening Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital.  That being said, we nevertheless believe that the architectural detail of the Clock Tower and the important history of the facility in the development of the mental health movement locally and nationally must be factored into decisions regarding the future of the Clock Tower.  Those commitments to the historic structure are found in the Agreement.  We trust that DCAM will honor the terms of the Agreement and continue to partner with us to achieve mutual goals of bearing homage to our past and celebrating our future.

Thank you for your attention.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Deborah Packard

Executive Director

cc: U.S. Representative James P. McGovern

      U.S. Senator John F. Kerry

      U.S. Senator Scott Brown

      Governor Deval Patrick

      Lt. Governor Timothy P. Murray

      Senator Harriette L. Chandler

      Senator Michael O. Moore

      Representative John J. Mahoney 
      Representative James J. O’Day
      Representative Vincent A. Pedone
      Representative John P. Fresolo

      Representative John J. Binienda, Sr.

      Michael V. O’Brien, City Manager, Worcester

      Joseph C. O’Brien, Mayor, Worcester

      Michael J. Germain, Worcester City Council
      Konstantina B. Lukes, Worcester City Council
      Joseph M. Petty, Worcester City Council

      Frederick C. Rushton, Worcester City Council

      Kathleen M. Toomey Worcester City Council

      Joffrey A. Smith, Worcester City Council

      Philip P. Palmieri, Worcester City Council
      Paul P. Clancy, Jr., Worcester City Council
      Barbara G. Haller, Worcester City Council
      William J. Eddy, Worcester City Council

      Commissioner Barbara Leadholm, Department of Mental Health

      Brona Simon, Massachusetts Historical Commission

      Wendy Nicholas, National Trust for Historic Preservation

      James Igoe, Preservation Massachusetts